Bird Watching

Use what talents you possess: the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best. -Henry Van Dyke

My favorite weather is bird-chirping weather.  -Terri Guillemets

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We have two bird feeders outside our house and I have taken to watching the birds and trying to identify them.  So far I have seen these birds on our feeders:

Goldfinch

House Finch

Pine Siskin

Cassin’s Finch

Evening Grosbeak

Black-headed Grosbeak

Lazuli Bunting

Black-capped Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Bullock's Oriole
Red-winged Blackbird

It's amazing the variety of birds that show up on the feeder.  Right now there is an Evening Grosbeak, a Pine Siskin, and a Goldfinch on one feeder, and there is a Black-headed Grosbeak on the other.  I enjoy it :).  Here are some pictures of some of the birds courtesy of Stephen Beckman:

Talents

“Talent without character is more to be dreaded than esteemed.” -Richard L. Evans

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I've been thinking a lot about the importance of talents.  Everyone is given different talents.  However, as the quote above illustrates, a talent is worthless unless it is used for something good.

Sometimes talents are naturally evident, sometimes they are harder to find.  Talents sometimes are things that we hardly recognize as talents.  It took me a while to realize that loving people, caring for children, being a peace-maker, teaching others, and other qualities can all be talents.

A woman told about how she found talents that she never knew she had:

"Suddenly my insight came. I can act on the desires and interests that I have and thereby reveal and use my talents in small ways."

Finding and developing talents can be hard work.  However the Lord often sends people to help us recognize our talents.  He also will give us opportunities to discover new talents through assignments and callings.

I really liked the following quote:

“Improving one talent often helps us develop other talents.” 

Sometimes when developing a new talent it can be so difficult that it may seem like we don't have a talent for it at all.  The thing is, sometimes things that are difficult at first will eventually become our greatest strengths.  In the parable of the talents in the New Testament  all the men were given different talents, some were given more and others less.  However, the expectations were the same:  

“More was expected from the man given many talents than from the man with fewer talents, yet all were expected to increase the talents they were given.”

So, when it comes to developing talents we aren't supposed to be satisfied with what comes naturally or easily. The hard work will pay off:

 “President Grant himself was fond of saying, “That which we persist in doing becomes easier for us to do; not that the nature of the thing itself is changed, but that our power to do is increased” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1901, 63).”

Remember the promise that the Lord made to those faithful men who increased their talents in his parable:

 “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou has been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord” (Matthew 25:21)

My husband is working on developing his photography talents.  Check out his website here. 

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All of the quotes came from these two articles:

• DUTIES AND BLESSINGS OF THE PRIESTHOOD: BASIC MANUAL FOR PRIESTHOOD HOLDERS, PART B, LESSON 19: DEVELOPING OUR TALENTS
• THE LATTER-DAY SAINT WOMAN: BASIC MANUAL FOR WOMEN, PART A, LESSON 27: DEVELOPING OUR TALENTS

Done and Done

My father always told me, "Find a job you love and you'll never have to work a day in your life."  ~Jim Fox

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Miracles happen.
I've been spending this last week preparing myself for the job hunt.
Thursday there was a job fair.
The night before I got myself prepared.  I printed off my resume, and did research on all the school's that were listed to be at the fair.  I figured out all the schools that I would like to work for, and made a list of questions I had for each of them.
So, off I went.  I talked to all the school's I was interested in and had one tentative offer.  Then I came back later to talk to another school district about an opening they had in preschool.  They said that they needed a permanent substitute for the rest of this year, with the hopes that this substitute would be able to continue on as the teacher in the next school year.
It sounded perfect! I got an interview for Friday.
I went and interviewed on Friday and I got the job!
Stephen and I have been so blessed.  We both have local jobs that should last for the rest of the time that we are here in Rexburg!


Following this wonderful news, I graduated on Saturday.


I woke up super early and got ready, and had Stephen take a few pictures before we left.

Then Stephen dropped me off to wait in the giant line for commencement.  I found my friend Kellie, and she helped me feel more comfortable.  Then Stephen and my dad and brothers walked to the BYU-I center to meet my mom and Grandma.

Commencement was good.  Stephen didn't see me walk in, but I got to walk out right past them, and that was exciting :).

Afterwards it was a zoo, so we gathered together and went to the Hart where we were going to have convocation.  We took some pictures and then I went in.  I got to sit next to friends, and Brother Thurgood (a sealer who works at the Rexburg temple when Stephen and I got there) conducted the meeting.  Brother Cloward and Sister Anderson were there as well (faculty I worked with during my degree).  It was really great. I was excited that I knew so many people.

Family!

Waiting in the Hart

Aw! My husband is so cute!

Brothers

Grandma :)

My mom and dad gave me a gift :)

Sitting :)

 

Receiving my Diploma

Brother Thurgood and I

Brother Eaton giving me my diploma

Sister Anderson, Brother Cloward, and I

So that was my day!  It was super fun!  Afterwards we got to spend some time together.  We went out to lunch, fed the ducks, played games, and went swimming!




P.S.
My mom got a cake for Zak and I because we are having a joint graduation/birthday party.
This is what we got.  Feel free to laugh.
:)

Well, here we go....

Your families are extremely proud of you.  You can't imagine the sense of relief they are experiencing.  This would be a most opportune time to ask for money.  ~Gary Bolding

Commencement speeches were invented largely in the belief that outgoing college students should never be released into the world until they have been properly sedated.  ~Garry Trudeau

It is indeed ironic that we spend our school days yearning to graduate and our remaining days waxing nostalgic about our school days.  ~Isabel Waxman

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Well, it's official.  I am graduating from college.  I finished my coursework, I have my cap and gown.  Weird.  Graduation is next Saturday.


It's been a great experience.  I've had many sleepless nights, but I feel like I really have learned a lot.  I've LOVED student teaching.  I'm excited for what the future holds.


Now it is time to begin "real" life.  For those of you who don't know, I am graduating with a degree in Early Childhood Special Education.  This means that, as soon as I apply for certification, I am qualified to teach children from 3rd grade and younger, with and without disabilities.


It's my passion.  I believe that you can learn a lot about life from children.  I especially believe that children with disabilities have a lot to teach us.  They help us learn patience, hope, and how to be happy despite struggles.


I watched a show on BYUtv today about a family that adopted 21 children from horrible backgrounds, and about another man that developed technology that enabled people to operate a computer with their eyes.  He used this to assist people with cerebral palsy.
Here's the Link:
http://www.byutv.org/watch/2164-101


It's inspiring to me to see how children change the lives of those around them.  I think that's what I've learned most over the years.  The teacher always ends up learning from their students.


So, that's where I am.  Ready to step out into the world, I guess.
It's going to be good.

Picture from my high school graduation

Parenthood

More marriages might survive if the partners realized that sometimes the better comes after the worse.  ~Doug Larson

One advantage of marriage is that, when you fall out of love with him or he falls out of love with you, it keeps you together until you fall in again.  ~Judith Viorst

You don't really understand human nature unless you know why a child on a merry-go-round will wave at his parents every time around - and why his parents will always wave back.  ~William D. Tammeus

Making the decision to have a child is momentous.  It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.  ~Elizabeth Stone

There comes a time when a woman needs to stop thinking about her looks and focus her energies on raising her children.  This time comes at the moment of conception.  A child needs a role model, not a supermodel.  ~Astrid Alauda, on the "hot mom" trend

It kills you to see them grow up.  But I guess it would kill you quicker if they didn't.  ~Barbara Kingsolver, Animal Dreams

Simply having children does not make mothers.  ~John A. Shedd

A parent's love is whole no matter how many times divided.  ~Robert Brault

The guys who fear becoming fathers don't understand that fathering is not something perfect men do, but something that perfects the man.  The end product of child raising is not the child but the parent.  ~Frank Pittman, Man Enough

Whenever I held my newborn baby in my arms, I used to think that what I said and did to him could have an influence not only on him but on all whom he met, not only for a day or a month or a year, but for all eternity - a very challenging and exciting thought for a mother.  ~Rose Kennedy

Instant availability without continuous presence is probably the best role a mother can play.  ~Lotte Bailyn

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So, that's a lot of quotes today, but I found them very meaningful.


I've been thinking a lot about parenthood today.  I'm not a parent yet, so I know there's a lot that I don't know or understand yet.


However, when you work with children all day, every day, it comes up.


It's also on my mind because I have been very alarmed by several news stories I have read lately.


I read one article about a mother who decided that she didn't want to be a mother anymore, so she gave her children to someone else and moved.  She claimed that she didn't want to be swallowed up in being a mom.  She claims that her relationship with her children improved after she left.  Sure, she may be a better friend to her children, but who said they needed a friend? 
(http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/parenting/the-opposite-of-a-tiger-mother-leaving-your-children-behind-2460982/;_ylt=ArD7EW38lqCbbE.36vJR4Nt8bqU5)


Afterwards, I read another article that claimed that only someone who was completely irrational would ever have children.  Because, obviously, anything that is hard to do, expensive, stressful, and tiring, should be avoided.  Why would anyone ever do anything to inconvenience themselves? 
This is the line that infuriated me the most: "Of course parents should be commended for one little thing they do: maintain the existence of humanity. I praise them for that, but I think they're both heroes and suckers."
(http://healthland.time.com/2011/03/04/why-having-kids-is-foolish/)


I feel like this is pointing out a major flaw in our society.  It's all about self.  Of course having (and raising) children is hard!  However, that does not mean it is something to be avoided or shirked.  This reminds me of the scripture in the Book of Mormon: "Wo unto them that call evil good, and good evil, that put darkness for light, and light for darkness, that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!"
(2 Nephi 15:20)


Then, I noticed some other articles.  One study pointed out: "These research findings, of course, fly in the face of our cultural dogma that proclaims it impossible for people to achieve an emotionally fulfilling and healthy life unless they become parents. And that’s a problem, because the vast majority of American men and women eventually have children, yet conditions in our society make it nearly impossible for them to reap all the emotional benefits of doing so.” 
(http://media.news.wfu.edu/experts/robin-simon/)
Again, the phrasing of this article points to a problem in our society rather than a problem with having children.  I found that interesting.


One article had a quote that I loved: "But when it comes to happiness and parenting, I'd argue two things: First, the fact that we can focus so intensely on personal happiness means that we've got it better than most people in the world. And second, sure, when you look at the cost analysis, having kids isn't strictly rational—but then again, neither are many other things we do. Focusing on how much you hate parenthood isn't helpful when it's still one of the most important jobs we have."
(http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/parenting/parents-who-hate-parenting-the-latest-trend-2466533)
I actually really enjoyed this article.  I would recommend it.  This article recognizes that parenting is very difficult, however, that with sacrifice, it is something that can be done.


This life is not meant to be easy, contrary to popular belief, and happiness actually does not come from doing nothing.  Happiness comes from working hard at something worthwhile.  When we are doing the Lord's work we will find peace, satisfaction, and happiness.
That doesn't mean that there aren't hard and sad times.  We all have to overcome adversity.  I'm grateful parenting isn't any different.  It puts us outside of ourselves.  It forces us to be better, to work harder, and to love differently than we have loved before.


"Work is always a spiritual necessity even if, for some, work is not an economic necessity." (“Put Your Shoulder to the Wheel” Neal A. Maxwell, April 1998 General Conference)

(That's my momma on her dad's lap)

To my sister in-laws

What's the good of news if you haven't a sister to share it?  ~Jenny DeVries

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I just got a super cute wedding announcement in the mail.


And I was just thinking how horrible I am at keeping in touch with people.


I have seven wonderful sister-in-laws that I haven't been very good at keeping in touch with.


But I just wanted to know that I watch your blogs, and facebooks.


Congratulations Kat on your wedding.  I'm so excited for it, and to see everyone.


Congratulations on your pregnancies Tiffany and Hollie.  It's so super exciting!  I love reading everything you post about them on your blogs.


Thank-you to all of you for welcoming me into the family.

(Missing Hollie and Katy :) )