Granny's, Granny's, GRANNY'S!

"Life is just a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get!"

How true this quote has been for me in 2009. My life as most of you know from the blog has gone in a up and down, round and round roller coaster ride that seriously at times felt as though I was in the spin cycle of a washing machine. It makes me dizzy to even think about the whirlwind I have been through.

In 2009 I have worked doing so many things it is insane. Supersonic Car wash as a Cashier, Emergency Essentials as a Customer Service Rep, Alpine School District as Substitute Teacher, A Selection Committee for a research group (I would test products out and give a review), Selling at boutiques/trade shows, house cleaner, A Vacation Nanny, Wedding Planner, Wedding Caterer, and now A Granny Nanny!

As you can see I had my hand in many pots. I loved it though. I love the knowledge I would gain with each responsibility! It wasn't as though I was starting and then quitting, I was doing many at the same time! But for the time being, one has stuck, I am now a Granny Nanny.

This all started back in October when a favorite mission companion of mine Kirsti Turpin Canova called and asked me what I thought about taking a leave from my vacation nannying and watching a Grandma Whelan for a bit. I told her I didn't know what I thought and that I would have to think about it. I prayed and fasted and thought and was so shocked how GOOD it felt! I called her Mother in law back and accepted the position.I began the process of getting everything squared away to go to Arizona in a few weeks and was so excited and even started to love this woman I had never met. Two weeks before I was to report to AZ, I was with a nanny family at disneyland, and got the call from "Turpin" that she had passed away that morning!
I didn't know how to feel. Numb would be a way at looking at it. I was looking forward to this new adventure, a more extended way to gain more knowledge, more perspective and it was taken a way just like that.
(This Granny is pictured above)

A few days later I recieved a call from my adopted Dad Lynn Whiting asking me to go and live with Grandma Whiting (Dale Whiting) in her home in Salt Lake City and care for her. I was elated at the experience. How I loved her already and to take care of her was an honor! I got all moved in with help from My Mom and went the next day to the rehab facility to pick her up. Seeing how happy and anxious she was to be home made it seem even more worth it.
That whole day I just followed her around to learn the "ropes" and find out what things she wanted me to do. We laughed, reminissed, ate and then retired to our rooms. The next morning we awoke and got ourselves ready for the day. Around noon I left for a bit, hadn't even been gone for 40 minutes when I got a call from Life Alert that she had a fall and I needed to get home.
I rushed home and it was a serious fall. I had to call 911 and grandma and I spent the next 4 days in the hosital. Some of the sweetest, most emotional days of my life, watching her go through that. After those days she had to go back for physical therapy and back to the rehab. My life as I knew it was again like a juggling act. (Grandma Whiting passed away on December 13th more to come about her)
After this loss of job I was beside myself. I didn't understand what the Lord wanted of me, why he would allow me to feel such peace and then yank it away from me.
This is when Monica Whiting became my angel and set me up with a family in her ward that needed help with their Granny. I have been in Gilbert, AZ for nearly 3 weeks. I have loved every second (who knew I could love AZ!!) since I have been here. This Granny (Verna Taylor)
is hand picked for me. I have laughed and laughed my way through each day. She has the best one liners you have ever heard and she isn't even trying to be funny! She will be 99 next Saturday and doesn't act a day over 80. I have only spend 3 weeks with her but have learned a lifetime of lessons and perspectives that will forever shape my life. This job has been such a blessing to me in so many ways. I love waking up and going to work. I love to cook for her, laugh with her, help her pick out clothes, do her hair and makeup, take her out, talk with her family, help her out in her yard. It is such a sweet experience...I am so thankful! So glad she is alive!

Life is just a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get rings through in each of our lives today, doesn't it? We have to go on blind faith knowing that we have a loving Heavenly Father who knows countless more than we do. He knows where we need to be, when we need to be there. He knew that I needed Verna and she needed me and so he arranged situations to help me open my heart to get there.
If I didn't love Turpin so much I would have probably never considered that offer and now even though her Grandma and I never got to meet face to face, because of the need she had, I have found a sweetness I may have never known.

I am thankful for the tender mercies of the Lord. I am thankful for trials that open up our eyes to the things we REALLY have had all along. I am thankful for a Heavenly Father who molds me and sometimes even had to put me in that spin cycle so that I can get what I need to get out of this earthy life.

"In all of life, have much joy and laughter. Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured!"

President Gordon B. Hinckley

Sunday WILL come

I will never forget this talk from conference Oct 2006. I remember the feeling vividly. It was one of those, "this talk is for me" feelings and I needed to cleave to this talk the way that I cleave to the talk "Cast not therefore away thy confidence."

I love when you have those teaching moments from the spirit. How I am thankful to know that this is true. I have seen so many Sundays in my life and have felt that relief from being broken and being renewed with hope and knowing that those darn Fridays won't last forever, that Sunday does come and so does the comfort, relief of pain, and understanding.

Some of the promises that I like that he makes in the talk are..

• No matter our desperation, no matter our grief, Sunday will come. In this life or the next, Sunday will come.
• In the darkness of our sorrow, Sunday will come.
• Because of our beloved Redeemer, we can lift up our voices, even in the midst of our darkest Fridays, and proclaim, “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
• That we may always know that no matter how dark our Friday, Sunday will come

We all have these "Fridays" in our lives. But we also have these promises that if we endure them, we will have a heightened joy because of our Redeemer. There are many more Fridays that will come to each of our lives. I am just thankful for that Sunday that comes every once in a while to remind you of the blessings that you have and focus on the end result, peace and happiness in the love and sacrifice of the Savior of the World. The Fridays seem worth it then.

For any of you who are going through your Friday right now. Know that I love you. I know you can do it! It is worth every second of heartache, darkness or sorrow for the light that will shine when all is said and done!

Come What May, and Love It!

Thanks so much for ALL the wonderful, thoughtful and funny Birthday shout-outs! It buoyed up my spirit and made we want to strive to be the person that you all say I am! Thanks for your confidence in me and for seeing me without my flaws in the way! Thanks Jolyn for starting the chain of wonderfulness by "hacking" in to my blog and posting it. I love you dearly!

Today has been a really reflective day, humbling, and emotional day for me. It is amazing to me how many emotions you can feel in a matter of a week and today they all came to the surface. These reflections included my own discouragements, people I love who I know are hurting and going through tempests great and small which also hurts me greatly to know they are hurting. Disappointment from not getting the job I so greatly desired, and the unknown that seems to be going on alot in my life as of late.

There are so many times when I let myself feel so inadequate and my thoughts get the better of me and yet even when everything seems to be so heart wrenching there is still such hope, such joy and such miracles and such opportunities for growth to be found, right underneath our very noses!

Today was one of those days where you know there is a brighter tomorrow. First off... the inevitable happened to me today, I was released from my calling as second counselor in the relief society (our church's women's group) and given the assignment as Sunday School teacher! In my mind I have always thought that is the most dreaded assignment for me to have. I struggle with all the differing opinions and tangents that sometimes accompany these classes and to have to juggle them I feel so un-prepared and not scholarly enough to have that responsibility. After a nervous breakdown in the Bishops office, he gave me the faith that this is what will bless my life at this time and that will increase my strength and endurance through the trials that beset us all. I was humbled. I was feeling so inadequate. After talking with my Mom (who is my hero) and getting on my knees, I am ready for the challenge. I know that in this situation I just need to set aside all the stereotypes that I feel is expected of me and just teach and testify of the things I KNOW are true in the scriptures. Thinking of it that way, it doesn't seem so daunting.

My roommate Michelle gave a great talk in church on overcoming adversity and referenced the talk by Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin in the Oct 2008 conference, "Come What May, and Love it!". I am nannying a family of teens right now and they didn't want me to entertain them tonight (although I did con them into a game of Sorry!) so I entertained myself by reading this talk! What a great choice I made in doing this! I have now printed this talk and plan to have it close by forever! I just wanted to remember a few things that stuck out to me...

**Every life has peaks and shadows and times when it seems that the birds
don't sing and bells don't ring. Yet in spite of discouragement and adversity, those who are happiest seem to have a way of learning from difficult times, becoming stronger, wiser and happier as a result.

**Learn to laugh: the next time you're tempted to groan, you might try to laugh instead. It will extend your life and make the lives of all those around you more enjoyable.

**Seek for the eternal: Learning to endure times of disappointment, suffering, and sorrow is part of our on-the-job training. These experiences while often difficult to bear at the time, are precisely the kind of experiences that stretch our understanding, build our character,
and increase our compassion.

**Understand the principle of compensation: The Lord compensates the faithful for every loss. That which is taken away from those who love the Lord will be added unto them in His own way. While it may not come at the time we desire, the faithful will know that every tear today will eventually be returned a hundredfold with tears of rejoicing and gratitude."

My heart has been so touched today as I realize that no matter what any of us are going through we will get through it and once again be able to say, "Come what may, and love it!"

To all of my friends and family with heavy hearts know that I love you. I am rooting for you and believe in the principle of compensation! Hang on there.. it does pay off.. everyday my discouragement has become smaller and smaller through the hope and prayers of all of you!

HE LIVES!

Master the tempest is raging...

Before saying anything, I want you to know that this is one of my all-time favorite hymns of the church. I have been teased about this in the past that it's kind of a depressing song to have as my favorite. The reasons behind this choice are: It tells a bible story where the Savior calms a terrible torrent and also that it reminds me of the steps it takes to get through our own torrents in life.

The blogging world hasn't seen me for a few weeks because I have been going through that very torrent. I have been swept up in many waves. Waves of discouragement. Waves of Dispair. Waves of Illness. Waves of uncertainty. Waves of anguish. Waves of fear. Waves of pain. Waves of trial.

I am not going to get into too much detail as to what has gone on but I will tell you that the wave started from loosing my full-time job with JetBlue and the storms and the torrents that have come as a result have left some effects in my life that I am trying daily to call out to my Master for his promise of peace be still.

Through these torrents, there is one thing that has remained steady and sure, that is my friends and family. They have touched my heart with the service that they have helped with as I have been physically challenged. My Mother spent her entire holiday weekend taking care of me. My Brother donated a car that was an automatic for me to drive and when someone in my culdesac did a hit and run and left it pretty damaged, He never took it out on me. My sweet friends Jen, Stace, Nat, Ghetto, Kelly, Marisa and my Mom rescued me from excruciating pain by helping me get through a wedding that I was still in the need of catering. My sweet friend Kaela braved bad weather to come sit and visit with me. Phone calls of love and support have come in from so many and I so appreciate it! It's at the times that are the most difficult that your true friends shine through.

I know that these trials are but a small season of my life and that is a few days, months or weeks I can look back and see the experience gained. While I am going through the storms.. it helps daily to keep the words to one of the most pivitol song in my life in mind...

Master, the tempest is raging!

The billows are tossing high!

The sky is o’ershadowed with blackness.

No shelter or help is nigh.

Carest thou not that we perish?

How canst thou lie asleep

When each moment so madly is threat’ning

A grave in the angry deep?

Master, with anguish of spirit

I bow in my grief today.

The depths of my sad heart are troubled.

Oh, waken and save, I pray!

Torrents of sin and of anguish

Sweep o’er my sinking soul,

And I perish! I perish! dear Master.

Oh, hasten and take control!

Master, the terror is over.

The elements sweetly rest.

Earth’s sun in the calm lake is mirrored,

And heaven’s within my breast.

Linger, O blessed Redeemer!

Leave me alone no more,

And with joy I shall make the blest harbor

And rest on the blissful shore.

The winds and the waves shall obey thy will:

Peace, be still.

Whether the wrath of the storm-tossed sea

Or demons or men or whatever it be,

No waters can swallow the ship where lies

The Master of ocean and earth and skies.

They all shall sweetly obey thy will:

Peace, be still; peace, be still.

They all shall sweetly obey thy will:

Peace, peace, be still.

I believe so powerfully in the promises of this song! My favorite part is, "And with joy I should make the blest harbor and rest on the blissful shore." All of us go through these times. All of us know these waves and torrents in different ways. Thanks to each of you who has prayed for me, thought about me and helped me to realize that the blissful shore will come quicker than it presently looks. Today my prayer is that each of us can hear the words of Peace be still.

Thoughtful Tuesday: A LOT on my mind...

I am sad that I fell behind in my many post entries.. there are birthdays and tributes that I missed and I promise they are coming... just wait and see.. better late than never. I could give many excuses but none are good enough... the ones I love deserve more!

Here is a few things on my mind...

Congrats to my best friend Ry Guy for popping the question to Sherri and getting engaged! It's been a Big year for him... turning 30 and getting engaged all at once! WOWZERS!

For the holidays I went back to work at Supersonic Car wash as a cashier (haven't worked there in 6 years, since I left to watch Jill's kids when Emily was first diagnosed). I have learned great things already from this experience.

1. I miss being around people and having face to face interaction


2. I don't like high school-like drama as a 30 yr old


3. I am dang good at selling pre-paid car wash certificates


4. It helps pay the bills


5. I love that half of the employees are my relatives and I get to see them 3 days a week!

I had so much fun helping Megan Parish with her Sadie Hawkins group's dinner and even more fun laughing and sitting on the kitchen floor with Amber making bets of who was going to be a couple one day...YEE HAW!

Val, Mike and Emerson are back in town and it has been fun to spend time at Auntie Kay's again (2 times this week already!)

I am a fan of the Twilight books and don't think that they are evil, however I do believe that they are very adult material. I did go see the movie and loved it. Wasn't a big fan of some that they cast for the movie but by the end I didn't care.. I wish I could watch the second movie NOW!

I love the biggest looser on TV and cry to it every week.. however the last 2 weeks I have wanted to say VERY BAD words at Vickie and Heva and think that they are very evil and wish they would get kicked off... I don't like pot stir-ers on TV series or in real life and people that don't show integrity and are cruel to those who don't deserve it make me FURIOUS! However, I do believe that Amy made her own bed and now has to lie in it. It never pays to not follow your heart and do something out of peer pressure or to make yourself more popular, you will always fall. Would I ever try out for biggest looser is something people ask me a lot? Is that a fat joke? hhahah My answer to that question is... I really don't know if I could bear to "bare myself" in a sports bra on public television every week.. LOL I don't even wear those at the gym or around my own house for that matter!! All I have to say about this show in conclusion.. I think it is absolutely fantastic that they help these groups of people gain a healthy lifestyle and a healthy perspective.. I do however wish Vickie and Heva would gain some weight and be gone for good! Did I just say that out loud?!

The holidays... This year the holidays are feeling a little gloomy for me this is why..

1. I work all the eves 14 hour shifts and all the days of the actual holidays 10 hour shifts


2. It always feels a little lonely when you are single and you wonder where you fit in


3. I will miss all the traditions with my family. Christmas Eve with brothers family and opening Pj's together, breakfast at Grandpa-ma's with table fairy gifts, and lunch/games at Grandpa-ma's with our huge family.


4. However I will say that with the economy the way it is, I am VERY thankful to have a job.

Christmas decorations. Oh how I love Christmas! How I love to decorate, cook, have smelly candles or cinnamon sticks cooking on the stove. It feels like a home when all these elements are in place. With 6 strangers as roommates sometimes the home element is lost... so glad for holiday times when I can bring the feeling to my house with the wonderful spirit of Christmas present! What a glorious time of year... I CAN'T WAIT!

The most important things on my mind are the people in my life who are going through extra rough challenges. The medical concerns with family and friends, money struggles, spiritual struggles, job worries, loneliness, and stress. Life has a way of sometimes getting the best of us and sometimes making us feel so down trodden! To all of you out there who may be experiencing one or all of the things I am praying for you! Please know that the Lord is aware of you. That trials will be but for a moment but when we endure them well, we will be blessed above anything that we can imagine. My quote of the year that I have sitting right infront of my desk at all times is by one of my hero's President Gordon B. Hinckley,

"In all of living, have much fun and laughter. Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured."