...remember, remember, remember...

I hope this is okay to share...

In the midst of an office summer that seems to never end, and as I tear my hair out doing what a teacher and friend just called "The Defense against the Dark Arts" position, (it's apparently so crazy someone new does it almost every year...and yes, that title brought laugh-tears to my eyes...and no, I'm not quitting before next year.) every now and again, I get a glimpse of what brought me to this job in the first place...a program that acts as one of many vehicles for the continued positive experience of youth all over through the gospel. Spreadsheets, phone calls, receipts and piles of emails sometimes cloud my view, and I forget far too often how rewarding it is to watch these incredible kids change for the better right before your eyes...

This experience came from one of our teachers:

In Georgia this past weekend, I had the opportunity to have a young man come up after one of the classes. He wasn’t a member of the church but thought that EFY sounded like fun. He had investigated the church for a few months. The two classes that I had facilitated were on Scripture Study and Prayer. When I finished he came up with a notebook of questions he had answered and a few that he needed help with. After our discussion, with tears streaming down his face, he proudly explained that he finally knew what he needed to do and couldn’t wait to tell the missionaries that he wanted to be baptized. Now, I share this not to bring credit to anything that I taught, for I am smart enough to know that is definitely not what happened. Any teacher that he had would have been the instrument that day. However, EFY had created an Atmosphere that allowed the Spirit to teach. That is what I think is so awesome!

It's things like this that make sitting behind this desk worth it to me...even if I would give my right arm to be back in the thick of that side of crazy in a heartbeat. :) However, this way I can have a life after 9-5..ish, right?

This will probably change your life.

1. First thing you wash in the shower?
my hair. #1 priority.
2. What color is your favorite hoodie?
Gray
3. Would you kiss the last person you kissed again?
The last person I kissed, or the last one to kiss me? Although either way, the answer is a very polite no. :)
4. Do you plan outfits?
Ha! No, the number of times I usually change every morning is borderline ridiculous.
5. How are you feeling RIGHT now?
motivated. (hahahha)
6. What’s the closest thing to you that's red?
a pen. also my jamba juice cup...they're both about the same distance away...
7. Tell me about the last dream you remember having?
I can't explain the "why" of this dream, but all I remember is that Cory Keate had an awful lot of construction orange polo shirts. Eh? (sorry, Cory. I can't control it.)
8. Did you meet anybody new today?
Yes. 5 so far.
9. What are you craving right now?
water. and the little pebble ice.
10. Do you floss daily?
yes. a thousand times yes!
11. What comes to mind when I say cabbage?
coleslaw.
12. Are you emotional?
Am I a girl? huh. well, then.
13. Have you ever counted to 1,000?
Isn't that what 1st or 2nd grade is for?
14. Do you bite into your ice cream or just lick it?
Who bites their ice cream?? Acutally, I guess I'm not the person to ask about this. But I lick it.
15. Do you like your hair?
Yes
16. Do you like yourself?
What's not to like? :)
17. Would you go out to eat with George W. Bush?
Is he paying?
18. What are you listening to right now?
the sports & dance camps people talking. I should turn on my tunes.
19. Are your parents strict?
Are we talking about now, or...say...when I was a teenager?
20. Would you go sky diving?
Woohoo!! YES! Only I'd probably pee my pants. So the mocking afterward is the only thing really stopping me...
21. Do you like cottage cheese?
Yes I do.
22. Have you ever met a celebrity?
Why yes, thanks for asking. Then we sang a duet together. (Don't even think about telling me he's not a celebrity. He was on t.v. which is more than I can say for myself, minus general conference.) Thank you, Jay B Ahfua.
23. Do you rent movies often?
Hardly ever, actually...
24. Is there anything sparkly in the room you're in?
does my personality count? :)
25. How many countries have you visited?
I'd like a different question, please.
26. Have you made a prank phone call?
Heh. Yes. Too many to count. But not since my sophomore year of college, I think...though I'd say the pinnacle year of prank calls was my freshman year of college. I'd like to give a big shout out to Tommy, the southern preacher.
27. Ever been on a train?
Oh, yeah. Thank you, Hogle Zoo.
28. Brown or white eggs?
I don't recall ever caring about that...
29.Do you have a cell-phone?
Oh, crap, I knew I was missing something...
30. Do you use chap stick?
Yes. I prefer it. Lip gloss on occassions, and lipstick hardly ever. I hate it (much to the dismay of my mother)
31. Do you own a gun?
Okay, no. But I do need someone to teach me how to shoot one. (don't make fun! If you'd ever met my mother, you'd understand why I don't know yet.)
32. Can you use chop sticks?
Oh, man that makes me want sushi REAL bad. So yes. :)
33. Who are you going to be with tonight?
a hot date.
34. Are you too forgiving?
Well, if by that, you mean do I forgive too quickly sometimes? Yes, probably. I forgive right away but I'm not always over it when I say "I forgive you." Sometimes I think I should probably sort that out verbally before I say the words, but...meh. I mean it, 9 times out of 10.
35. Ever been in love?
Yes.
36. What is your best friend(s) doing tomorrow?
See, I'm glad for the (s) in that sentence. They're doing many things. And no, I don't want to name them all. I don't think I've ever had just one best friend...that idea always seemed a little silly to me.
37. Ever have cream puffs?
Mmm mmmm good! Also, that reminds of this sunday school lesson from a few years ago when this guy was teaching and he'd made home made cream puffs for the whole class (hello, overachiever...but I appreciated his efforts) and I'm sure there was something about that relating to the lesson, but I think I forgot to pay attention after I started eating one. Oops.
38. Last time you cried?
Huh. Actually, it's been a while. I think the last real time was when my sister had her baby...I didn't cry until I had to leave, but then I did. (Thank you, Daniel, for managing my emotional issues.)
39. What was the last question you asked?
What report are you getting this information from? (woohoo, my life is a party...)
40. Favorite time of the year?
Early Fall. * happy sigh *
41. Do you have any tattoos?
Nope.
42. Are you sarcastic?
* Ahem * I'm so much better than I used to be...
43. Have you ever seen The Butterfly Effect?
Actually, yes.
44. Have you ever walked into a wall?
Dang it. Yes. Driving back and forth from Utah to Arizona in two days is far too much driving for my little self. The morning after we got back, I absolutely could not control my direction, horizontal or vertical. Pretty sure I walked into at least 3 walls. Oh, and one bookshelf. And one door frame. It was a painful morning.
45. Favorite color?
Green.
46. Have you ever been slapped by someone?
I...really? That's a question here?
47. Is your hair curly?
Naturally, yes. We ( my hair and I) had major arguments until the invention of the chi. Blessed day!
48. What was the last CD you bought?
Missy Higgins, "On a clear night" Love her.
49. Do looks matter?
matter to what? to whom? clarify, please. In relationships? Sure they do, but the actual look is different for everyone. Attraction matters.
50. Could you ever forgive a cheater?
Yes, if I felt the change was real and sincere. But honestly, could that just not happen, please?
51. Is your phone bill sky high?
Not currently. Thank you family plans.
52. Do you like your life right now?
1000% yes. :) Even with the busy. I love it.
53. Do you sleep with the TV on?
If I do, it's not a good sleep.
54. Can you handle the truth?
* sigh * Yes. I'm not sure it's an entirely good thing that I've gotten better at that...
55. Do you have good vision?
Define "good vision"....I'd like to give an affirmative answer to this question, but fear I'd have to lie. And I really shouldn't do that.
56. Do you hate or dislike more than 3 people?
Hate is too strong. And no.
57. How often do you talk on the phone?
Every day? Too many times to count, per my job.
58. The last person you held hands with?
Oh, man. What was that boy's name? It was for a game, Sunday night...(for crying out loud...)
59. What are you wearing?
Black shirt, brown pants. And yes, I look hot. You're welcome. :)
60. Are you going to get straight back to work now?
Yes. * ahem * :)

(my conscience made me add that last question...)

"The Drop"

Not to steal the words right from your blog's...mouth...Bethany, but "that just happened."
I work with hilarious people. Out of control. And I love it.

Commence story:

This cryptic message came to my work inbox only moments ago...

Then came the phone call.

A muffled (was that a transformer I just heard???) voice informs me of a drop. To be prepared. I hung up laughing.

But they meant business.

In walks messenger. Who shall remain nameless. Black briefcase strapped to arm.

The handcuffs from the wrist to the briefcase strangely resemble EFY wristbands...hmmm.....

"Get out your scissors."

I'm laughing. Laughing and grabbing the scissors.

"Cut it off." He motions toward the wristband.

He opens the briefcase, and in one swift movement, my blue pen is safely back in my possession.

"This never happened." He says, and walks out of my office.

Successful drop.

Over.