What a Pitcher!

When I was young I looked forward to the spring of the year.
As the weather warmed, I was ready for baseball to begin.
Like most young boys, I would wish that I could become a great baseball player.
I am reminded of a story about a very young boy with similar dreams.
With the desire to become the next mighty ballplayer, he decided to go outside and practice.
He held the baseball in one hand and the bat in the other, and he threw the ball into the air.
With a wish to hit the ball as far as he could, he took a great swing, but the ball fell to the ground without even touching the wood of the bat.
Not to be denied, he went at it again.
As he was about to throw the ball in the air, his determination grew as the thought of a powerful hit came into his mind.
But alas, the results were the same.
The ball lay on the ground.
But as any good ballplayer knows, you have three strikes before you are out.
He concentrated even more, threw the ball in the air, and gave the mightiest swing he had ever attempted.
As the ball again fell to the ground, the tears began to swell in his eyes.
Then all of a sudden a great smile appeared, and he said, "What a pitcher!"

-James B. Martino -All Things Work Together for Good -April 2010 General Conference

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

-Sarnic Dirchi

Black Road

So yesterday, I came home to a notice on the garage.
That our street was going to be repaved today.
And that we couldn't have any vehicles on the street else they'd be towed, 
As well as we couldn't drive on the street once they started the repaving process. Micro-paving or something like that.

Where they basically add a thin layer of tar/paving material on top of the road to prevent it from cracking and such.
And you can't drive on it while it's 'setting' else it may ruin it or create rough patches. 

And they were like "We're going to be doing this sometime between 7am-7pm." 
To which I was like....O.o I kinda want to get home at some point....

Thankfully they were done by 3ish it felt like.
So there wasn't too much of an issue of making it back home.

However.
The kicker to this little story is this.

On the paper that was provided, the company said specifically that we should turn off the sprinklers for the next day or so, so that the water wouldn't ruin the road if it happened to get on the road. Discolor it and such.

Well....a couple of hours after the construction company finished with the road and pulled up all the cones and such....
a huge thunderstorm hit us.
And dumped a ton of rain.

Which means....the road that the workers said that they didn't want getting wet.....
Got really really super wet. 

Seriously. It was a crazy heavy thunderstorm with thunder close enough to rumble the house and make it feel a bit like I was experiencing a earthquake or something. (scary) 

But now....
I wonder.....
Is the road now ruined because of the rain storm?
Or because it happened after the road was set and the cars were allowed to drive on it, it will be fine?

Guess we'll see what the morning brings.

Still find it amusing though that it decided to storm the day the construction people didn't want their roads getting wet. ^^;;

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

-Sarnic Dirchi

A Clean Sweep? No Way.

So I had a gentleman in the store today at work.
Who was thinking about switching his tank up again.
From fake plants and such to live plants.

And through one way or the other,
We got on the topic of Angelfish.
And he positively adores them.

To which I was like "I have 10!!" 
-Because with my 125 gallon tank I can totally afford to have ten.

And then I brought up that I had two pairs that had managed to breed.

And the guy went off onto a long tangent of how to take care of the babies and make sure they're surviving and what sort of tanks you can set up etc.

-Which my roomies would kill me if I set up another fish tank in the house lol.

To which I was like "Yah....I'm just going to leave them in the big tank..."

To which he was like: "So what are you going to do with all your other fish then? Sell them? Give them away?" 

O.o Huh?

Apparently he thought that since I was keeping the anglefish in my large tank....
That I intended to get rid of all my other fish to give the angelfish the optimal breeding environment...

Heh....
Uhmm...
No. 
I've worked too long and hard to get my tank the way I like it with the fish I want in it to just suddenly throw it all away when my angelfish decided to lay eggs. 

*exhales*
No...
No. 

It's completely accidental that I somehow managed to get the tank to the proper set up that my angelfish felt secure enough to attempt to be parents.

I'm not actively trying to breed my angelfish.
It just kinda happened. 
And I'm just going to let it happen.
And see how it goes. 
See who survives since I don't currently have a way to separate them out. 

I think I disappointed the customer though.
lol that I wasn't being proactive in breeding them. 

To each their own I guess....

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

-Sarnic Dirchi

April 2016 General Conference -Saturday Afternoon

Dieter F. Uchtdorf -The Sustaining of Church Officers

Kevin R. Jergensen -Church Auditing Department Report, 2015

Brook P. Hales -Statistical Report, 2015

• Total Membership: 15,634,199
• Full-Time Missionaries: 74,079
• Church-Service Missionaries: 31,779

Ronald A. Rasband -Standing with the Leaders of the Church

• The leaders of this Church are no strangers to your issues, to your concerns, and to your challenges. 
• Be of good cheer, and do not fear, for I the Lord am with you, and will stand by you.
• The growing question of today is clear: are you standing with the leaders of the Church in a darkening world so that you might spread the Light of Christ?
• No one goes his way alone.
• Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. 
• The Lord is there for you and for me.

Neil L. Andersen -"Whoso Receiveth Them, Receiveth Me"

• We recognize the many good parents across the world, of all faiths, who lovingly care for their children.
• While a child's earthly situation may not be ideal, a child's spiritual DNA is perfect because one's true identity is as a son or daughter of God. 
• Let's open our arms and our hearts a little wider. 
• Knowing someone's name can make a difference.

Mervyn B. Arnold -To the Rescue: We Can Do It

• As we go to the rescue, God gives us power, encouragement, and blessings. 
• We Must Not Delay Going to the Rescue.
• While we must be organized in our councils, quorums, auxiliaries, and even as individuals, we must not delay going to the rescue.
• We Must Never Give Up
• Our members need to be reminded that it is never too late.

Jario Mazzagardi -The Sacred Place of Restoration

• Yes, God revealed Himself to man again.
• I my heart an immense joy, and peace calmed my soul. I was filled with gratitude.

David A. Bednar -Always Retain a Remission of Your Sins

• Baptism is a holy ordinance preparatory to the reception of the Holy Ghost; it is the channel and key by which the Holy Ghost will be administered.
• Baptism is a point of departure in our mortal spiritual journey; it is not a destination we should yearn to revisit over and over again.

M. Russell Ballard -Family Councils

• No matter what our particular family situation is, it is critical that we understand the unique circumstances of each family member. Though we may share DNA, there may be situations and circumstances among us that may make us vastly different from each other and which may require the compassionate collaboration of the family council.
• Children desperately need parents willing to listen to them.

Until you next read these words;

I'll be watching the leaves.

Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

A Late Night Chat

Okay....
So it probably wasn't my most brilliant move
When I ended up staying up until nearly 3 am last night. 

I mean, it wasn't like I'd done it intentionally.
I'd actually planned to go to bed at a reasonable hour.
Mostly due to the fact that the time I go to church has changed with the new school year approaching.
So instead of being able to sleep in and go to church at the nice hour of 1130.
I'm now getting less of a lie in and heading in in the early am of an 830 church time. 

So staying up until nearly 3 am....
With an 830 church....
Yah....lol wasn't the most brilliant thing I've done. 
Especially considering for this past week I've been recovering from a nuclear headache.
The sort that just makes you want to curl up and die because your brain is simultaneously being squashed into a tiny ball but also torn apart jagged piece by jagged piece with a hot poker. 
And after those sort of disastrous headaches,
there's always the problem of having after shock headaches hit me after that.
Where it's not as bad as the original headache.
But still a nuisance to deal with.

So messing up my sleep schedule after such an event....
Is never a good idea. 

-Yah I ended up with a headache.
A stubborn one that just won't go away but at least thankfully isn't nuclear in it's issue. 

Yet, I couldn't help myself, staying up late.
Why?
Because I was chatting with a friend. 

And even though responsibility often wins out in my mental arguments of the day.
Sometimes there's just a need to connect.
To establish a bond.

And I hadn't been able to talk to this particular friend in a little while. 
So when I realized we were both online at the same time and able to chat....
I was of course reluctant to cut it short. 

It was fun.
I was laughing.
And I just...it was great to be able to chat and connect. 

So while cutting short my hours of sleep last night may have been....well....not the best of ideas.
At least what I did to get my headache was worthwhile lol. :) 
Because talking with friends is always worthwhile.
Especially when you haven't spoken in a bit. :) 

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

-Sarnic Dirchi

Memory Impressions

There are times where I get thrown for a loop.
Where someone asks me a question and I answer it and then doubt myself and then wonder....what is the actual answer?

That happened today at work.

You see....
We have this new program, where our new 'nationwide' goal really is to establish a more 'real connection' with customers. Get to know them and their pets and help them find solutions to their problems or find products that they need. etc. 

The slight problem with this program....
Is that there's a reward system attached to it. Where if you have a good exchange with a customer and a manager sees...you get a sticker. And when you get enough stickers, you get a pin and when you get enough pins...well...I have no idea what you get after that...but yah... it's quite the reward system.

The flaw? 
The manager has to see you doing it. 
Which....my department doesn't really see the managers that often...not unless something goes wrong. So it's not like they're near at all whenever we have conversations. 
It's just luck of the draw really if you happen to have a good conversation near a manager who realizes that you're having a good conversation with the customer and that you deserve a sticker.

Soooo I haven't really been putting much stock into it. I've just been having conversations lol. 

But one of my managers noticed this.

Noticed that the people who work full time....weren't getting as many stickers as the people who were working part time.

Which didn't seem right. I mean...the full timers are there much longer than the half timers...like double the time...so why did they have less stickers?

So he took it upon himself, to have us come tell him when we fulfilled the requirements to get a sticker. 
-Engage with the customer, ask questions that don't involve yes or no answers, get to know the pet parent or their pet, leave them with your name so they can find you. etc. 

That way, we could tell him that we deserved a sticker.
Instead of hoping that a manager happened to be nearby paying attention when the good customer experience happened. 

Which too is a bit awkward lol. Since it seems a bit like bragging.
But I was gratified for it, because I then felt I was actually being a great employee. 

In any case.
That was a bit of back story lol.

The main point.
Was what happened the second time I went to this manager to tell him about a good customer experience I had had so I could get another sticker.
(I earned 3, and called it good for the day because I didn't want to have to keep finding him.) 

And so I was like :I deserve another sticker!"
And the manager asked me: "Okay, what happened for you to deserve the sticker?" 

So I started into my story: 
"So, I encountered a woman in the cat cans looking at the food, so I asked her what I could help her find? And she was like "I'm looking for a wet cat food for my cat because we need to give him medicine and I wanted to mix it into the wet food."
To which I was like: "Ah, that makes sense, though the cat may just eat around the pill, my dog did that all the time." but I continued to try and figure out what sort of food she needed, as she usually buys just dry cat food and wasn't sure what wet cat food she'd like, so I asked her what flavor of cat food she fed her cat, and she said "Costco flavored" and so I figured that probably meant chicken since it's the most common, so I showed her a couple of cans in the friskies that were chicken flavored as well as the fish flavored ones for her to try a slightly different taste to see if that would help her cat, and then she was like "my cat also has flea issues can you show me where the flea stuff is?" to which I did and I learned that she has an outdoor cat named Ozzy and he's like 7, and she has an indoor cat named Miss Kitty who's like 16 years old and just likes to lay there, while Ozzy is an outdoor cat and she's impressed that he's still alive as they moved to a new part of town and were worried that he'd be eaten by the coyotes. But he ended up with fleas, and so I showed her a couple of products, established that she'd want to treat both cats, and the house and then the yard to make sure the fleas wouldn't return, and I shared with the customer some pictures of my own cats......

etc....

lol I think it was about halfway through that whole spiel where my manager was like. 
()_() 
Do you have an eidetic (photographic) memory or something? 

To which I was like "YAH!....I mean... No...I mean...." :S 
lol 
And he was like "I was just wondering because you sure do remember a lot of details!" 
To which I was like "Of course...." I was making an effort to do so, so I could tell you the manager about my customer experience so that I could earn myself another sticker.

So that was my "thrown for a loop" moment today.

Because....I don't think I have an eidetic memory.
I mean, I can remember things and sometimes it's random things.
But it's not like I remember what I said to every single customer in what order and when of that day. 

But I have noticed that I seem to remember more than other people....like I'll remember details and conversations that other people have forgotten about.
But I never really considered it an Eidetic memory.
If anything I may have it partially? 
*shrugs* Who knows for sure.

I just found it...odd....when I got asked that question.
Because my first thought was "Doesn't everyone?" 
Like...doesn't everyone remember this? Why would they not remember those details? 
But that's just it. The details. My manager mentioned that the others don't go into as much detail. 

So....weird.... 
Soo...thrown for a loop.

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

-Sarnic Dirchi

Golden Fixation

It's always fun to see the odd paths my mind sometimes goes down.
Especially when I'm recovering from a Nuclear headache.
You know...one of those bad migraine/headache things that feels like a red hot poker is being drilled in your head but the edge is dull? 
Yah.

I'm always a bit...off, I suppose is the word after a headache.
Mostly because these nuclear ones have my brain running in circles more than it already does.

So sometimes....my thinking isn't always the best afterwards lol. It's harder for me to piece together things or to coherently explain things. 

I guess the possibility for miscommunication is higher because I'm not as creative in my thinking....

*shakes head*
In any case.

Today I had work.
Which is always 'fun' to be at when I'm recovering from one of these mind meltdowns.
Since I kinda need to be social and happy and smiley to customers....which is totally draining.

But today at work.
I was done with my tasks early.
And I was looking for something to do. 

I had just finished pre-bagging crickets for customers to come and grab so I wouldn't be called to the podium every two minutes.
And was looking for something else to do.

When my 'recovering from meltdown' mind had the 'brilliant' idea that I could:
Pre-bag some Goldfish for customers!!

Ha.
Ha.
No.
NOOOOO
Bad brain. lol

Don't worry I quickly discarded the thought as soon as it appeared.
Because I could recognized, even in my drained state how that would be a bad idea. lol

Can you imagine just random bags of goldfish of different numbers sitting out all day? 
:S 
That would not bode well at all.
Not at all.
crickets at least can survive a bit longer. 

*shakes head*
Of course,
Since my brain likes to fixate on things when it's in 'headache recovery' stage.
I couldn't stop thinking about pre-bagging goldfish.
Even though I knew how bad of an idea it was. *exhales*

I was trying to figure out how I could make it work.
How could one prebag fish? 

Especially since customers want anywhere from 1 to 200 goldfish at one time. 
Especially when you can't really predict which customers will come in which days needing which amounts of goldfish.

Still my head played with the idea for a bit lol. 
But no real easy solution came to mind. *shrugs*

Definitely interesting what my mind fixates on lol. 

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

-Sarnic Dirchi

I Know It

When I served as a mission president in Canada more than 50 years ago, one young missionary who came from a small, rural community marveled at the size of Toronto.
He was short in stature but tall in testimony.
Not long after his arrival, together with his companion, he called at the home of Elmer Pollard in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada.
Feeling sorry for the young men who, during a blinding blizzard, were going house to house, Mr. Pollard invited the missionaries into his home.
They presented to him their message.
He did not catch the spirit.
In due time he asked that they leave and not return.
His last words to the elders as they departed his front porch were spoken in derision: "You can't tell me you actually believe Joseph Smith was a prophet of God!"

The door was shut.
The elders walked down the path.
Our country boy spoke to his companion: "Elder, we didn't respond to Mr. Pollard.
He said we didn't believe Joseph Smith was a true prophet.
Let's return and bear our testimonies to him."
At first the more experienced missionary hesitated but finally agreed to accompany his companion.
Fear struck their hearts as they approached the door fro which they had just been ejected.
They knocked, confronted Mr. Pollard, spent an agonizing moment, and then with power borne of the Spirit, our inexperienced missionary spoke: "Mr Pollard, you said we didn't really believe Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God.
I testify to you that Joseph Smith was a prophet.
He did translate the Book of Mormon.
He saw God the Father and Jesus the Son.
I know it."

Some time later, Mr. Pollard, now Brother Pollard stood in a priesthood meeting and declared, "That night I could not sleep.
Resounding in my ears I heard the words 'Joseph Smith was a prophet of God.
I know it.
I know it.
I know it.'
The next day I telephoned the missionaries and asked them to return.
Their message, coupled with their testimonies, changed my life and the lives of my family."
Brethren, teach the truth with testimony.

-Thomas S. Monson -Come, All Ye Sons of God -April 2013 General Conference

Until you next read these words;

I'll be watching the leaves.

Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

Attempt Number Two

Around a month ago I made a post detailing the fact that two of my Angelfish -Beauty and Beast- had laid eggs!!

Well unfortunately....a day or so later.
All the eggs had vanished. Y_Y 
Foo.

I came home from church to discover that the leaf the eggs had been sitting on....was completely barren. 
Well...nearly completely.
As one of my plecos was hanging out on the leaf....

Causing me to wonder if he'd eaten all the eggs.....
Or if the angelfish themselves had eaten the eggs.

As I had noticed some of them turning pure white.
Which usually means the egg has gone bad. Y_Y 

So my angelfish's first attempt at being parents....
Didn't fare so well. Y_Y 
And I figured "Well they tried!" 

And thought that they probably wouldn't try again for a while.

Well....

You guessed it. :) 

Beauty and Beast once again attempted to become parents!!

Last week I discovered eggs on the post of one of my ship decorations. 
-They'd switched to a different spot from last time. More off to the side and easier to defend. 

And I only happened to notice the bundle of eggs on the post because I saw that my other fish....had switched up their usually swimming grounds.

As most of the fish in my tank have their 'sections' they like to swim in.
And their sections had shifted further to the right.
Leaving the left side of the tank barren....except for Beauty and Beast.

A close look at the ship post.
And there were the eggs!!
Beauty and Beast were going for round two! 

And a day or so later....
The eggs had actually hatched!! ()_()
You could see these wiggling white masses on the post. 
Which meant.
The eggs were fertile!
The eggs had hatched!!

Woot!!

Now these little wigglies as I called them....wouldn't move from the post for five or so days.
As they just kinda sit there absorbing their egg sac.
Which meant....
Yah still a ton of potential for all the babies to disappear.

Especially since I was disappearing for a long weekend to go see that Eclipse up in Wyoming lol. 

But upon seeing the wigglies, I did some quick research,
And discovered that it's best for their survival to leave a light on for them.
So the angelfish could see their babies....and not forget that they were their babies and eat them. :S 

So for the past weekish I've been leaving one of the fish tank lights on 24/7 
Just to keep the baby fishies safe.
Worrying the entire time I was in Wyoming if they would still be there when I got back.

They were. ^^ 

I mean, there were less of them than the very beginning. 
But they were there!!

And today.
The little wigglies made their first sojourns into being fry. 
As they are now freely swimming about the tank.

Well...about their little post lol.
Beauty and Beast are being really protective of their children. 
Still keeping the fish away from their brood. 

Which makes feeding a bit difficult because those fry are still bite sized.

There's around twenty currently swimming around their parents. 

And they're the most adorable things ever!!

But they don't really look like angelfish yet lol.
It's going to be another couple of weeks before they get their angel looking fins. 
And like another 8 weeks or so before they'll get dime sized...and hopefully large enough to survive without being eaten by my other fish.

Soooo there's a long way to go in this process.
A very very long way.
But I'm excited to see how it all turns out!
See how many end up making it.
And just see how Beauty and Beast continue to be amazing parents protecting their young. ^^

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

-Sarnic Dirchi

A Moment to Behold

So this past weekend I traveled up North.
To Jackson, Wyoming.

For the same reason half the country ended up traveling this past weekend. lol.
To see the Eclipse. 

And honestly.
I wasn't thinking too much about the Eclipse.
Like it wasn't a "I MUST GO SEE THIS NOW!" sort of thing.
I'd actually planned on not going at first really.

But then work was getting a bit crazy.
In the "I really need a break away from it all" sort of fashion.
Which happened to hit about the time that most of my family was planning to head north to see the Eclipse.
So I figured I would take a few days off,
Drive up to Wyoming with the fam.
And enjoy the weekend away from the stresses of my job and watch this eclipse when it happens.

I didn't think it was going to be that big of a deal really.
Because I'd been to an eclipse before.
A handful of years ago.
A couple of hours south of my home. 

It was known as the "Ring of Fire"
Where the moon causes the sun to just show as a ring of light around the shadow of the moon.

I'd been told that this particular eclipse would be different from that.
But that was what was in my head when I went to Wyoming with the family.

An eclipse.
That you could only really see when you had the special glasses on.
Where the sun would fade slightly, and it would get a degree or so cooler.

But it would still feel like day.

Well....
This was way different.

The first thing I noticed was the drop in temperature as the sun began to be covered by the moon.
By the time the moon hit totality around the sun, it felt like the temperature had dropped twenty degrees or so. 
Then there was the quiet.
Everything just kinda went still. No birds were singing. All other noises seemed muted.
And then.
There was the darkness. It got down to dusk darkness when the moon fully covered the sun

It was crazy.
Within the space of 15 seconds. The sun went from being bright....to being totally covered.

And I could look up for 2 minutes.
And stare straight at the sun.
As the moon was this perfect black circle, leaving only a tiny ring of light -the corona? -of the sun visible.

It was amazing.
It was breathtaking

It was definitely something to behold.

Ah.
It was totally worth it to travel to go see this eclipse!
To deal with the crazy energies of all the people traveling all over.
It was simply.
Amazing. 
Astounding.

I wish I could see these eclipses more often.
Because...wow. 
Just.
Wow.

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

-Sarnic Dirchi

April 2016 General Conference -Saturday Morning

Henry B. Eyring -Where Two or Three Are Gathered

• Where and when we feel the closeness of the Savior depends on each of us.
• Those who are saddened by the loss of the joy they once had are the blessed ones. Some do not see the withering of faith within themselves. 

Mary R. Durham -A Child's Guiding Gift

• At times we may all feel as if we are drowning. Life can be heavy. We live in "a noisy and busy world. ... If we are not careful, the things of this world can [drown] out the things of the Spirit." 
• Act and not simply be acted upon.
• The Holy Ghost teaches you in ways that you each learn best.

Donald L. Hallstrom -I Am a Child of God

• You can have what you want or you can have something better.
• In today's world, no matter where we live and no matter what our circumstances are, it is essential that our preeminent identity is as a child of God. 

Gary E. Stevenson -Where Are the Keys and Authority of the Priesthood?

• As you do these things, the Lord will make much more out of your life than you can by yourself. He will increase your opportunities, expand your vision, and strengthen you. He will give you the help you need to meet your trials and challenges. 

Kevin R. Duncan -The Healing Ointment of Forgiveness

• God has provided an escape for all who fall victim to the misdeeds of others. He has taught us that we can forgive! 
• Even though we may be a victim once, we need not be a victim twice by carrying the burden of hate, bitterness, pain, resentment, or even revenge. We can forgive, and we can be free!
• An unforgiving heart harbors so much needless pain. When we apply the healing ointment of the Savior's Atonement, He will soften our heart and help us to change. 
• As victims, if we are faithful, we can take great comfort in knowing that God will compensate us for every injustice we experienced. 
• The Lord compensates the faithful for ever loss. Every tear today will eventually be returned a hundredfold with tears of rejoicing and gratitude.
• As we strive to forgive others, let us also try to remember that we are all growing spiritually, but we are all at different levels. 
• While it is easy to observe the changes and growth in the physical body, it is difficult to see the growth in our spirits. 
• Too often we look at the offender the way we would look at an iceberg--we see only the tip and not beneath the surface. 
• To forgive is not to condone. 
• We do not rationalize bad behavior or allow others to mistreat us because of their struggles, pains, or weaknesses. But we can gain greater understanding and peace when we see with a broader perspective. 
• Opportunities to listen to those of diverse religious or political persuasion can promote tolerance and learning. 
• In the competitions of life, if we win, let us win with grace. If we lose, let us lose with grace. 

Steven E. Snow -Be Thou Humble

• A little bit of humility right now would go a long way.
• Humility is not something reserved to be taught only to children. We must all strive to become more humble. 
• Blessed are they who humble themselves without being compelled to be humble.

Dale G. Renlund -"That I Might Draw All Men unto Me"

• The greater the distance between giver and the receiver, the more the receiver develops a sense of entitlement. 
• The closer we are to Jesus Christ in the thoughts and intents of our hearts, the more we appreciate His innocent suffering, the more grateful we are for grace and forgiveness, and the more we want to repent and become like Him. 
• Whatever our current direction or distance to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, we can choose to turn toward Them and draw closer to Them. 
• Our present circumstances may not change, but through God's compassion, kindness, and love, we will all receive more than we deserve, more than we can ever earn, and more than we can ever hope for.

Until you next see these words;

I'll be watching the leaves.

Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

A Tidbit of History

There's an amazing thing about history.
It's that every single person on this planet has one.
A history.
They have a past. They've done things. They've seen things others haven't seen. Know things others don't know. Been to places and events others haven't been to. 

It's kinda crazy to think about really.
How everyone has a history.
Yet, only a few of us ever make it into the history books.
Only a few of us become known well enough that many will know their names. 

And it's interesting to think....how many stories could be told that haven't been told.
How many little tidbits of history we never hear about, 
Because hardly anyone remembers them, or learns about them unless they go searching for it.

Tonight, was one of those moments where I got to learn a little bit of history behind a person. Behind events that I already had learned in school.
But with details I hadn't known before.

I was able to go to a lecture given by the Step-Sister of Anne Frank, Eva Schloss tonight. 
A survivor of the holocaust. 
Someone who'd known Anne Frank.
Someone who'd experienced the camps personally.
One who had had a history, that isn't widely known to many people. 

It was fascinating to hear the little details.
Hear that soldiers would keep the prisoners updated about the war's progress, but that they wouldn't tell the captives where they were going. 
Learn that on all the Jews visas the girls had to be referred to as Sarah, the guys to Ishmael.
To hear that Eva Schloss's family were betrayed by a nurse who pretended to be working for the resistance, but was in fact working for the Nazis.

It's crazy those details of history.
That little bit of information that not many people know about because they didn't experience it personally.

It has me craving a bit more. To learn more of what most people don't know. Because I want to know it. I want to know people's histories.
Especially the ones not oft mentioned in classroom history books.

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

-Sarnic Dirchi

Car Trips

It's crazy how the passage of time changes as you get older.

You see, when I was a kid, and the family would journey out of state to visit my grandparents...

I always thought that that journey took an eternity.
We'd start out in the light.
Arrive in complete darkness.
It was a journey of mystery, suspense, and definitely....and eternity of just sitting in the car.

It was like we were driving for days....

But in reality the drive up to my Grandma's house was only Threeish hours. 

()_() 
Like that drive hardly feels like a drive now.
I mean....it is three hours in the car.
But it doesn't feel so long anymore. 

Probably because we make the drive when it's light now.
Instead of in the evening.

I don't even know why we would drive up in the dark.....My guess is that we usually drove up to see my grandparents in the winter. (For Thanksgiving) and since in the cold season it gets dark around 5 or 6....we probably would leave after my parents got off work. Hence why it would be dark out more often than not when we arrived. 

It definitely literally was a trip down memory lane today.
As I now only visit the area if a family reunion happens to be held up there. 
But it was fun to see all the familiar sites. Travel the familiar roads. 
And be like "Yes, this place, I know it." 

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

-Sarnic Dirchi

Down In the Bunker

So yesterday my sister and I went on a bit of an adventure.

As she needed to pick up some props from a gentleman living in our city for a project she's currently working on.

Needless to say we weren't quite sure what to expect.
Because neither of us knew this gentleman only that he was like the parent of one of my sister's coworker's or something. 

In any case.

I think both of us had only expected to take like 15 minutes there. Basically show up, say hi, politely ask for the props, thank the gentleman and leave.

That's not what happened. 
lol 
So we pull up to this normal looking house. Single story, maybe has a basement.
Well mostly normal. It was one of those houses that had a screened in front porch with plants in it...so we weren't sure if we were supposed to go in that way or in the side door in the open air garage.
We chose the garage. 
-You never know what sort of plants could have been lurking on the other path. They may have tried to eat us for all we knew. ;) 

So we rang the doorbell, and was met at the door by a woman.
Which...we were both expecting the gentleman....
So seeing a woman we were both like. O.O Are we at the right house?!

After asking if he was there, the woman confirmed that he was in fact there, and went to go get him.
Leaving us standing awkwardly in the kitchen, staring at all the random post-it notes all over everything labeling the table as table, wall as wall, floor as floor, etc. 

And the women comes back to lead us into the basement where the gentleman was apparently waiting with the props we needed. 

So we went down one flight of stairs.
Then another.
THEN ANOTHER!

()_() Which is just...whoa....like looking at the house you wouldn't expect there to be two extra levels UNDERNEATH. A whole hidden house, that you wouldn't think any different from it's neighbors.
But no.
This place was like a bunker!

Because we went down a FOURTH flight of stairs before we finally reached the concrete basement where the gentleman was waiting.

And this room was huge. 
Tall, covered in wood, weapons, books, files, pictures, random article clothing...
Because this gentleman was not only a photographer himself, but he enjoys doing reenactments, creating things, and basically making sure everything is period correct. 

As you see, Kikay was needing to borrow a rifle for the project as the group was wanting their project to be as authentic as possible for this photoshoot thingy they're going to be doing. 

Glancing about this room, I got the feeling that we weren't going to be leaving anytime soon.
Especially when the gentleman was like "Did you get the email I sent?" 
And Kikay was like "What email?" (it was sent to someone else)

I'm pretty sure the email probably had a list of instructions or whatever.
But hearing that question, and hearing Kikay's response....
I knew we weren't going to be leaving any time soon. 

lol. 
I was right.
We spent the next hour learning from this gentleman. 
History of clothing worn, how reenanctments work, what 'part' of history are you trying to portray (before battle, during battle, after battle) as well as the names of the different parts of the rifle and the leathers, and the uniforms and everything.

And the man is a stickler for perfection. 
Knowing that it was for a photoshoot he was full of suggestions on how to make things look more realistic and what details would be history accurate and which ones wouldn't be. 

lol part of that perfection was actually teaching Kikay how to shoot this Flintlock Rifle. 
Which involves gunpowder, and getting the cock in the right position, and having the right grip when you pull the trigger. 

-Don't worry, no bullets were used. It was just the powder pan that was filled, the rifle wasn't loaded. So we were creating fire and smoke and sparks but nothing else. 

It was kinda crazy to watch and see.

And then...the gentleman turned to me to have me shoot the rifle as well. 

Now before this point....I'd really only come along as support. To make sure nothing went wrong. I'm not involved in the project at all. 
And while I was enjoying watching and learning about history and such.
-Getting strong flashbacks of Rendezvous and the shoots they would do their and the gun powder candy cannon. 

I hadn't intended to do more than just stand there.

Especially because I'm a lefty.
And this flintlock gun was not meant for lefties.

Yet somehow I found myself holding the rifle in my hands.
Which again since I'm a lefty, the hold was awkward using my right hand instead of my left. 

But I held this rifle with confidence -having watched both the gentleman and my sister hold and fire this weapon.

And since it's a flint based firing system....the gunpowder doesn't always ignite on the first strike, so you have to reset it two or three times to get a nice flash of fire and smoke. 

But when I pulled the trigger...
Flash of Fire and Smoke! 

lol. to say it surprised me is an understatement as I hadn't been expecting it to work on the first try.
But it did.

And it was definitely an interesting experience to be sure. 

The whole thing was an experience lol.

Being in this bunker like basement, filled with old things, learning about history.
It was amazing to hear the stories to hear the facts.

It does feel kinda surreal though.
Like did I actually go do that?
Or was it a crazy dream?

Because really...it was a different sort of experience. 

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

-Sarnic Dirchi

Small Connections, Big Impact

I recently learned firsthand of a young man who attended the temple with a heart pleading for help.
Many months earlier he had received his call to serve in a mission in South America.
However, his visa was delayed for such a lengthy period that he was reassigned to a mission in the United States.
Although disappointed that he could not serve in the area of his original call, he nonetheless worked hard in his new assignment, determined to serve to the best of his ability.
He became discouraged, however, because of negative experiences he had with missionaries who seemed to him to be more interested in having a good time than in sharing the gospel.

A few short months later this young man suffered a very serious health challenge that left him partially paralyzed, and so he was sent home on medical leave.

Some months later the young man had healed completely, and his paralysis had disappeared.
He was informed that he would once again be able to serve as a missionary, a blessing for which he had prayed daily.
The only disappointing news was that he would return to the same mission which he had left, where he felt the behaviors and attitudes of some missionaries were less than they should be.

He had come to the temple to seek comfort and a confirmation that he could have a good experience as a missionary.
His parents also prayed that this temple visit would provide the help their son needed.

As the young man entered the celestial room following the session, he sat in a chair and began to pray for guidance from his Heavenly Father.

Another who entered the celestial room shortly afterward was a young man whose name is Landon.
As he walked into the room, his gaze was immediately drawn to the young man sitting on the chair, eyes closed and obviously praying.
Landon received an unmistakable prompting that he should speak with the young man.
Hesitant to interrupt, however, he decided to wait.
After several minutes had gone by, the young man was still praying.
Landon knew he could no longer postpone the prompting.
He approached the young man and gently touched his shoulder.
The young man opened his eyes, startled that he had been disturbed.
Landon said quietly, "I have felt impressed that I need to talk with you, although I am not certain why."

As they began to converse, the young man poured out his heart to Landon, explaining his circumstances and ending with his desire to receive some comfort and encouragement concerning his mission.

Landon, who had returned from a successful mission just a year earlier, told of his own mission experiences, the challenges and concerns he had faced, the manner in which he had turned to the Lord for help, and the blessings he had received.
His words were comforting and reassuring, and his enthusiasm for his mission was contagious.
Eventually, as the young man's fears subsided, a feeling of peace came to him.
He felt deep gratitude as he realized his prayer had been answered.

The two young man prayed together, and then Landon prepared to leave, happy that he had listened to the inspiration which had come to him.
As he stood to go, the young man asked Landon, "Where did you serve your mission?"
To this point, neither of them had mentioned to the other the name of the mission in which he had served.
When Landon replied with the name of his mission, tears welled up in the eyes of the young man.
Landon had served in the very mission to which the young man would be returning!

In a recent letter to me, Landon shared with me the young man's parting words to him: "I had faith Heavenly Father would bless me, but I never could have imagined that He would send someone to help me who had served in my own mission.
I know now that all will be well."
The humble prayer of a sincere heart had been heard and answered.

-Thomas S. Monson -Blessings of the Temple -April 2015 General Conference

(Author Note: Fun Fact: I actually had an institute class with Landon and he shared this story with the class before it was shared at General Conference. :) )

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

-Sarnic Dirchi

Peaked Sensitivity

Energy is a crazy thing.
Especially when you can sense the energy coming off of other people.

Sometimes it's great energy and it totally lifts your spirits and gives you a boost in your own energy levels.
But other times....it's not as great of energy and you find yourself struggling against the force of someone's energy or personality. 

It seems like I'm heading into a more sensitive to energy zone.
As I've been rather...aware...or more aware of people's energies the past day or so. 

Like I had a coworker teasingly flick their fingers at me saying "I blame you" 
-A different coworker had split water, and I happened to be standing nearby when this coworker came by and saw it.-

and as they were flicking their fingers, I could literally fill the energy coming at me. 
And not in a good way.

*exhales* 

In any case.
With me being more sensitive, I'm pretty sure that means that I'm basically 'running ragged.'

As usually when I'm feeling drained or stressed or a combination of both of those and other things,
I get more sensitive.
Because I don't have coping abilities up as high.

And this week definitely has been on the more stressful side with the work schedule being all messed up causing me to be either working alone in my dept, or us to not really have cashiers scheduled, or having me having to run around the entire store helping people because there's no one else available or like all three.. *exhales* 
It gets exhausting.
And I get exhausted.
Low on energy.
Because I'm having to expend more energy than I should be in order to get everything done.
Which means that I have a lower tolerance for being near other people and their varying energies. 

Thankfully, I have a break from work coming up...because I don't know how much more of this I can handle while I'm in this more 'sensitive to energy peak' 

Guess we'll see. :) 

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

-Sarnic Dirchi

Dropped

Tragedy befell my sister the other day.

In that...while we were walking to church...her phone slipped out of her hand.
Tumbled to the ground.
And....shattered.

The screen cracked in a spiderweb of lines. 

And we both stared at the phone in shocked surprise.

Because Kikay had dropped her phone multiple times before....and nothing major had ever happened.

But somehow...this day, things just coincided in the wrong timing, so that when the phone hit the concrete...it shattered....where it shouldn't have shattered at all.
Perhaps it hit a rock? or an uneven part of the ground.
Whatever the case.
The phone was now barely useable. 
Because the broken screen created rough patches to swipe across.
So it made doing anything...difficult.

Thankfully though,
After some quick research into phones and checking into her phone plan.

Kikay decided to replace her phone with a Google Pixel.
Aka My Phone!

()_() So for the first time in....ever....
I actually have the same phone as another member of my family lol. 

As I've always been a bit of the odd one out when it comes to our phones.
The rest of the fam is more likely to get phones similar to each other. Not everyone, but there's always two or three of them that have the same phone. 

And I've yet to share that experience.
Until now.
Now that my sister's new phone has arrived!!
And we're now pixel buddies!! ^^

Lol of course, to make sure we don't mix them up she got a different color from me.

But yah! It's rather exciting to be able to collaborate with someone else who has my same phone, so we can discover tricks together. 

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

-Sarnic Dirchi

April 2016 General Conference -General Women's Session

Cheryl A. Esplin -He Asks Us to Be His Hands

• Unless we lose ourselves in service to others, there is little purpose to our own lives. Those who live only for themselves eventually shrivel up and ... lose their lives, while those who lose themselves in service to others grow and flourish--and in effect save their lives.
• Don't think of your task as a burden; think of it as an opportunity to learn what love really is.
• Ofttimes we are so worried about ourselves and our own busy lives--as we look in mirrors while trying to look for opportunities to serve--that we do not see clearly through the windows of service.
• We are the Lord's hands here on upon the earth.

Neill F. Marriott -What Shall We Do? 

• We must develop bedrock faith in the Savior's gospel and move forward, empowered by temple covenants, toward exaltation. 
• Love is making space in your life for someone else. 
• The more we follow Christ, the more we will feel His love and direction.
• Being distinct and different from the world will draw some criticism, but we must anchor ourselves to eternal principles and testify of them, no matter the world's response.

Linda K. Burton -"I Was a Stranger"

• Sometimes reaching out is inconvenient. But when we work together in love and unity, we can expect heaven's help.

Henry B. Eyring -Trust in That Spirit Which Leadeth to Do Good

• God will lead you to do the good He wants done. 

Until you next read these words;

I'll be watching the leaves.

Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

A Crawly Friend

So semi-recently. In that I've only started joining in on it. 
The roomies and I have taken to walking around the block when we're all home.
Official reason would probably be to 'get some exercise.' 
lol which I don't really quite need because I spend all day on my feet anyways for work. 
But really.
We do it to go catch pokemon. lol. Exercise and play a game at the same time!

In any case.
This evening Kikay and I went a wandering around to work out some restless energy and tension that we were both experiencing. 

So we took our phones and went to wander our regular loop. 

And as we were hitting about the midway point of our walkabout. 
Kikay noticed something crawling in the road.
And pointed it out to me.

What was this thing?

It was:

A tarantula!! 
Dun dun dun.

Here's a size comparison so you can see how big he was. ^^

In any case.
He was walking in the road.
Where he could have easily been squashed by a car driving by.

So Kikay and I took it upon ourselves to ensure that the tarantula got out of the road safely.

We tried to move him backwards to the grass closest to us.
But he was very determined to cross the road.

And after glancing back to the freshly mown lawn, and then to the green wild bushes across the way....
I decided it would probably be best to move him to the bushes where he could easily disappear into and be less likely to get stepped on....as lawn grass doesn't offer much cover...and there were kids wandering around the neighborhood as well.

So slowly but determinedly, we got him to cross the road.
With Kikay allowing him to climb onto her shoe (she took her foot out of it first) and dragged the shoe with the spider on it across the way until he'd climb off. Then I'd use a piece of paper to scoot him forward until we would try the shoe again, switching back and forth.
Until finally we got him over the curb, across the sidewalk, and into the bushes that would provide him with some cover. ^^

lol. We had a half a dozen people stop to ask what we were doing and then proceed to snap pictures and ewwww and oooohhh over it when they realized we were helping a tarantula to cross the street.

lol. Some commented that we were braver than they would have been.
Others were probably thinking "why aren't you squishing him?"

And it's simple....
Tarantulas are good for the bug population as they enjoy eating crickets, and there are plenty in the fields nearby lol. 

Besides, having dealt with tarantulas at work before, I had a good idea of how to get him to move and get him to safety.
(No I did not pick him up I'm not crazy) 

But yah.
I'm glad we were able to get the tarantula out of the 'danger' zone, so that he could live. 

Definitely a fun discovery for me. ^^

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

-Sarnic Dirchi