I know everyone has been waiting with extreme anticipation to find out how my first week of school went.
Well, it was pretty first-week-of-school...ish. My professors have been throwing around Buzz Words like "prioritize" and "critical thinking" and it seems the point of most of what we do is to train our minds to think in a different way. It's challenging, but I'm enjoying it so far.
One of the biggest adjustments for me is having professors that genuinely seem to care about whether or not I do well in their class. In the past I've either had to seek out my instructors during their arbitrary office hours, or figure out how to do it by myself. Now, I have the cell phone numbers of all my professors and they all have given me permission to request their help if I need it, and assured me they would be available anytime. What a change.
As if my life weren't crazy enough, I started a new job last week too. I work for a company that does life insurance exams. I'm the one that goes to the applicants' houses and draws blood and has them sign the paperwork. It really is the perfect job for me right now. I can do as much or as little as I want and if I need time off, I just block it out of my schedule. It's fantastic! I'm thrilled to be so blessed.
Friday, January 10, 2014
Sunday, December 29, 2013
A Personal Proclamation
In light of recent events, our combined Priesthood/Relief Society lesson today was about The Church's Proclamation to the World on the Family:
WE, THE FIRST PRESIDENCY and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.
ALL HUMAN BEINGS—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.
IN THE PREMORTAL REALM, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshipped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize their divine destiny as heirs of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.
THE FIRST COMMANDMENT that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God’s commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.
WE DECLARE the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God’s eternal plan.
HUSBAND AND WIFE have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. “Children are an heritage of the Lord” (Psalm 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, and to teach them to love and serve one another, observe the commandments of God, and be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.
THE FAMILY is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed.
WE WARN that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.
WE CALL UPON responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.
Most of those close to me know that the issue of gay marriage is one that I have struggled with for a long time. I have members of my family who are gay. I love them and their partners, and I truly desire their happiness and their well-being. How is there place for both the love for them and the denial of their desire to be married in my heart? It didn't make sense.
Since it's been so clearly illustrated that one judge has the power to overrule the majority in our lovely state, I feel that the time for me to be silent and indecisive is past. The words of my bishop echoed in my head long after he said them today: "Don't make this complicated. It is simple."
The simple truth is that I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I value my membership as one of my most prized possessions and I've made covenants to protect and defend it. I understand that being truly converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ means that I am choosing to accept all of its teachings, not just the ones that are easy or convenient. So, for whatever it's worth, I bear testimony, in writing, on the web, with the leaders of this church that the messages contained in The Family: A Proclamation to the World are true and are the only way to achieve real and lasting happiness in this life.
As I reread this, it seems like it could be interpreted as "blind faith." Quite honestly, I think at first it was. I have chosen, as Nephi did, to say: "I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things" (1 Ne. 11:17). That is enough for me.
THE FAMILY
A PROCLAMATION TO THE WORLD
The First Presidency and Council of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
WE, THE FIRST PRESIDENCY and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.
ALL HUMAN BEINGS—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.
IN THE PREMORTAL REALM, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshipped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize their divine destiny as heirs of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.
THE FIRST COMMANDMENT that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God’s commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.
WE DECLARE the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God’s eternal plan.
HUSBAND AND WIFE have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. “Children are an heritage of the Lord” (Psalm 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, and to teach them to love and serve one another, observe the commandments of God, and be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.
THE FAMILY is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed.
WE WARN that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.
WE CALL UPON responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.
Most of those close to me know that the issue of gay marriage is one that I have struggled with for a long time. I have members of my family who are gay. I love them and their partners, and I truly desire their happiness and their well-being. How is there place for both the love for them and the denial of their desire to be married in my heart? It didn't make sense.
Since it's been so clearly illustrated that one judge has the power to overrule the majority in our lovely state, I feel that the time for me to be silent and indecisive is past. The words of my bishop echoed in my head long after he said them today: "Don't make this complicated. It is simple."
The simple truth is that I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I value my membership as one of my most prized possessions and I've made covenants to protect and defend it. I understand that being truly converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ means that I am choosing to accept all of its teachings, not just the ones that are easy or convenient. So, for whatever it's worth, I bear testimony, in writing, on the web, with the leaders of this church that the messages contained in The Family: A Proclamation to the World are true and are the only way to achieve real and lasting happiness in this life.
As I reread this, it seems like it could be interpreted as "blind faith." Quite honestly, I think at first it was. I have chosen, as Nephi did, to say: "I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things" (1 Ne. 11:17). That is enough for me.
Saturday, December 7, 2013
The holiday season...
A friend of mine posted this awesome video on Facebook today. I'm a huge fan of the original song, and the lyric change in this one is simply beautiful. I can honestly say it's my new favorite Christmas song.
I listened to the song while I was making some mac n' cheese for lunch and I opened the window to see this:
I listened to the song while I was making some mac n' cheese for lunch and I opened the window to see this:
 |
| Out my back window |
There's something magical about the first snow fall of the season. Ok, technically it's the second, but I wasn't awake for the first one so I'm counting this. I get so giddy when I look out the window to see big flakes falling to the ground. One of my favorite sights is the snow blanketing the leafless branches of the trees. It looks so pure. I watched the storm with lyrics about the birth and life of Christ playing in the background, and was filled to the brim with gratitude. "Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow." How grateful I am for the Christmas season and for the chance to reflect every day on the best gift of all--the gift of a person, a brother, who gave us the ability to repent of our sins and return to our Father in Heaven. Hallelujah!
Friday, November 22, 2013
Ok, it's time to start treating our bodies like we're 25...
I had a lot of time to sit and think yesterday. That's sometimes a good thing, sometimes not, but it always makes me want to write.
I got bamboozled into taking a R.I.P.P.E.D class last night. I went to a Relief Society activity having been promised a "fun, light workout" but it was not that. I'm sure I looked pretty sad by the end of it since my butt was thoroughly whipped, but I made it. And I really didn't hate it either. I've also started taking Zumba classes. I average only about twice a week, but it beats sitting on the couch watching Criminal Minds. It's no secret Ian and I have put on quite a bit of weight since we've been married. I take most of the responsibility, since I like to eat crap. Ian likes it too, but it seems like he's much better at resisting than I am. I kind of had a meltdown the other night and we decided it was time to quit making excuses and make some changes.
I decided to pick some motivational pictures out.
Here's some before pictures:
I think a lot of my new found motivation comes from my dad's efforts the past couple years. I can hardly believe the difference:
I know the 2nd one's not the best quality, but I was trying to find something recent since it seems like someone posts a picture of him and then he loses more weight. We talked about it a little last night when I told him I went to that class, and he told me about how much he's noticed his strength improve and he likes getting sore because it means he's getting stronger. I love my dad no matter what shape or size he is, but it's been fun to brag about him and watch the people who haven't seen him in awhile look at him in amazement. He's pretty much a big deal. :)
So here's some things I've learned so far:
1. My craving for sweets after every meal is mostly habitual. If I don't indulge it, it goes away and I don't really miss it.
2. If it is one of those days where I just need a brownie and no one gets hurt, one will do. I don't need or really even want more than that.
3. I enjoy working out. It's that whole "energy of activation" thing. If I can get motivated enough to get moving, it's no big deal.
4. It's 90% mental. I've learned that our minds and bodies don't like to be out of sync. If I tell myself that I want to eat healthy and I want to go to the gym, I usually do it.
5. Like most people, my mind confuses hunger and thirst all the time. I need to drink water first and then, if I still feel hungry, eat something.
I got bamboozled into taking a R.I.P.P.E.D class last night. I went to a Relief Society activity having been promised a "fun, light workout" but it was not that. I'm sure I looked pretty sad by the end of it since my butt was thoroughly whipped, but I made it. And I really didn't hate it either. I've also started taking Zumba classes. I average only about twice a week, but it beats sitting on the couch watching Criminal Minds. It's no secret Ian and I have put on quite a bit of weight since we've been married. I take most of the responsibility, since I like to eat crap. Ian likes it too, but it seems like he's much better at resisting than I am. I kind of had a meltdown the other night and we decided it was time to quit making excuses and make some changes.
I decided to pick some motivational pictures out.
Here's some before pictures:
 |
| On one of our camping trips this summer. |
 |
| We're both thinner than we were here, I just love Ian's face in this one. This guy loves me. |
Here's the goal pictures:
 |
| I think I weighed about 160 here. |
 |
| This guy is smokin' hot. |
 |
| This was at my wedding almost 3 1/2 years ago. |
 |
| One of his FB friends uploaded this a few days ago. Bud's not even gonna recognize him when he gets home. |
So here's some things I've learned so far:
1. My craving for sweets after every meal is mostly habitual. If I don't indulge it, it goes away and I don't really miss it.
2. If it is one of those days where I just need a brownie and no one gets hurt, one will do. I don't need or really even want more than that.
3. I enjoy working out. It's that whole "energy of activation" thing. If I can get motivated enough to get moving, it's no big deal.
4. It's 90% mental. I've learned that our minds and bodies don't like to be out of sync. If I tell myself that I want to eat healthy and I want to go to the gym, I usually do it.
5. Like most people, my mind confuses hunger and thirst all the time. I need to drink water first and then, if I still feel hungry, eat something.
I would say it's all pretty basic, and it's sad that it's taken me this long to start taking it seriously, but I guess better now when I can still do it pretty easily.
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Waitin' On This For Awhile Now...
It's high time for me to NOT look at those pictures from my last post anymore. Eeesh!
The title of this is a quote from one of my favorite songs from one of my favorite bands, Imagine Dragons. I have followed these guys since they played to small crowds at The Velour in Provo, and every success they have just makes my heart happy for them. They just released the music video this week:
I was thinking about this as it came on Pandora today. I registered for my first semester of nursing school yesterday and I was humbled as I looked at the classes to reflect on just how far I've come. I say over and over again how I knew when I started this that it wouldn't turn out how I thought it would. I'm just not sure I realized how different it really would be. I'm so incredibly grateful for this process, both the "payin' my dues to the dirt" and the feeling of being "on top of the world" (ey!)
I can't even convey my excitement that the holiday season is upon us again. It's my favorite time of year. I joke with Ian whenever I see Christmas commercials or decorations before Thanksgiving. I point to it and say, "Christmas craaaap!" The other day he answered, "What are you talking about? You love Christmas more than anyone I know." It's true. I love everything about Christmas. I love the music; I love shopping for (or making) the perfect gift for each member of my family; I love the Christmas casserole we eat for breakfast every Christmas morning; I love that I still get jammies on Christmas Eve, and I especially love the quiet moments I have to reflect on why we celebrate the season in the first place. I've never been able to sleep on Christmas eve. I'm a kid on Christmas and I get to experience the pure joy of it all.
The title of this is a quote from one of my favorite songs from one of my favorite bands, Imagine Dragons. I have followed these guys since they played to small crowds at The Velour in Provo, and every success they have just makes my heart happy for them. They just released the music video this week:
I was thinking about this as it came on Pandora today. I registered for my first semester of nursing school yesterday and I was humbled as I looked at the classes to reflect on just how far I've come. I say over and over again how I knew when I started this that it wouldn't turn out how I thought it would. I'm just not sure I realized how different it really would be. I'm so incredibly grateful for this process, both the "payin' my dues to the dirt" and the feeling of being "on top of the world" (ey!)
I can't even convey my excitement that the holiday season is upon us again. It's my favorite time of year. I joke with Ian whenever I see Christmas commercials or decorations before Thanksgiving. I point to it and say, "Christmas craaaap!" The other day he answered, "What are you talking about? You love Christmas more than anyone I know." It's true. I love everything about Christmas. I love the music; I love shopping for (or making) the perfect gift for each member of my family; I love the Christmas casserole we eat for breakfast every Christmas morning; I love that I still get jammies on Christmas Eve, and I especially love the quiet moments I have to reflect on why we celebrate the season in the first place. I've never been able to sleep on Christmas eve. I'm a kid on Christmas and I get to experience the pure joy of it all.
Friday, November 15, 2013
Hi, my name is Cori, and I am a Trypophobic.
I have always had this weird thing with holes. Every once in awhile something will catch my eye and give me the heebie jeebies, but at the same time I'm not able to stop looking at it. It's not any holes it seems; they have to be little and somewhat random. For instance, I have this little basket on my kitchen table with little decorative Styrofoam (maybe? I don't know what they are) balls in it. I bought it in a package and it originally came with Lotus Blossoms. Ya know (gulp) these things:
Ew! Ew! Ew! It makes my skin crawl and makes me itchy all over. My mom suggested I just hide them at the bottom of the basket, but just the thought that they were there was too much. I had to toss them.
I remember one year when we went to see the lights at Temple Square, we went in to the Assembly Hall to warm up and this caught my attention:
See those little, are they horns? I don't even know but they bugged me so bad. I have to make a conscious effort not to look in that direction every time I go back there.
I was sure I had to be the only person with this weird thing. Talk about irrational fears. Today however, I learned that there's a name for it: Trypophobia. From what I've read, it's not an official phobia that can be diagnosed, like Hydrophobia or Arachnophobia, but a lot of people seem to have it. I wonder if there are support groups out there...
Oh, and I'm pretty sure I won't be looking at this post again.
Sunday, November 10, 2013
Because I don't want to study...
I have a Pathophysiology test on Tuesday. I have two more chapters and a study guide to go through, but I'm just not up for it right now. My professor is a doctor, and seems to be very knowledgeable on the subjects he teaches, but he's also one of those "if it has a face or a mother, don't eat it" type of people. Not that there's anything wrong with vegetarianism, but he's a stereotypical vegetarian, and I'm over it. Ya know, just the typical, "vaccines don't really prevent the disease, they just lessen the effects" and our food is "contaminated" with antibiotics garbage. Vomit. The class is mostly just review. I suppose that's a good thing, and a credit to my Anatomy and Physiology instructors at SLCC, but I'm at the point now where I'm just trying to push through these last few weeks.
Wow, that was a little whiny... Moving on.
One of the prompts from Striped Giraffe Stories that I missed before was "Write about a test or exam that you had to take that was critical and life changing." I realized I never really wrote about the Kaplan. Every nursing program seems to have a different entrance exam so I think most people end up taking a few. I took the HESI and the Kaplan. The HESI was pretty easy I thought. I got a 91%. Unfortunately the rest of my grades weren't what they should've been, so I needed to take the Kaplan for Dixie's program. I needed at least a 75% to apply and the range of students who had been accepted the semester before was 75-91%. I was out of my mind nervous about it (Ask Ian. I was a friggin' basket case). I usually don't have test anxiety, but I definitely did on this one. I even had a dream the night before that I got a 74%, just one point too low. But I shook it off and took the test anyway. I felt so relieved with an 85% when it was all over.
The problem I think I discovered during that test is the reading. It's so much harder to read and try to absorb information from a computer screen rather than something in print. I felt myself having a hard time concentrating. But I must've done better than I thought at the time, because the score got me in. And now I never have to worry about entrance exams again. Yay!
Wow, that was a little whiny... Moving on.
One of the prompts from Striped Giraffe Stories that I missed before was "Write about a test or exam that you had to take that was critical and life changing." I realized I never really wrote about the Kaplan. Every nursing program seems to have a different entrance exam so I think most people end up taking a few. I took the HESI and the Kaplan. The HESI was pretty easy I thought. I got a 91%. Unfortunately the rest of my grades weren't what they should've been, so I needed to take the Kaplan for Dixie's program. I needed at least a 75% to apply and the range of students who had been accepted the semester before was 75-91%. I was out of my mind nervous about it (Ask Ian. I was a friggin' basket case). I usually don't have test anxiety, but I definitely did on this one. I even had a dream the night before that I got a 74%, just one point too low. But I shook it off and took the test anyway. I felt so relieved with an 85% when it was all over.
The problem I think I discovered during that test is the reading. It's so much harder to read and try to absorb information from a computer screen rather than something in print. I felt myself having a hard time concentrating. But I must've done better than I thought at the time, because the score got me in. And now I never have to worry about entrance exams again. Yay!
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