Observations

I find that there are times when I have to just stand back and take in the view. Not just of the world, but of the people in it. Sometimes I get so caught up in my life, I forget to look around me. I forget that everyone else is experiencing things too.  I forget to understand them, and what they may be going through. Some of my observations lately...

Most people are doing their best. Sometimes their best fluctuates, but most people try to do their best with their circumstances.

Most people try to be kind, and the majority of them have NO idea they could have just offended someone. Granted there are people who are mean just because they can be, but most people aren't out to get others. Most of the things we humans get offended by were never meant to offend us.

There is a bright side to every situation. To be fair, there is another side to every situation. And there's usually a little truth to both sides. I like looking for the bright side on either side. Sometimes I have to really look for it. But I feel like it's a great exercise to engage in.

This is a biggie for me: EVERYONE gets overwhelmed! A-ha moment!! Even the dynamic, energetic, have-it-all people get overwhelmed. It's part of being human. I have viewed this in myself as a character flaw, but I realize it's actually normal. I need to remember this.

There are times that a thank you can make or break a situation. Maybe even save it.

No one is perfect. It's a worthy goal, but clearly unattainable in human form. I think forward is a wonderful direction to be going in.

Life is good. For every bad there is a good. For all the junk that gets reported in our world, there are acts of kindness, miracles, happiness, and good deeds going on all over the place that we never see or hear about. That gives me great comfort.

It's a Gusher

Okay....I've got to fangirl a little. So I'm going to gush-just a little-again.....about one of my favorite bands. I love American Authors. I just do. They make me happy. They are positive and upbeat. And I met them!!!

So as a little background, I bought tickets to see American Authors in August. Chad, Meghan and I have been so excited! You know I have to be excited about a band to buy tickets to see them on a Monday night, and a school night to boot!

We got in line outside the venue about 4:30 pm-and the doors didn't open until 6:30 with the concert starting at 7:30. As it was general admission we tried to be early so we could be as close to our guys as possible. We met fun people there in line, and were probably among the first 50 or so to get in. So we scooted right up front and center. Actually there were two rows of people in front of us, but it was an awesome view.

The opening bands were pretty good (until one of the bands decided dropping the f-bomb during one of their songs was a cool thing to do) and though we knew almost none of their music it was enjoyable-until the lead singer jumped off stage and the crowd rushed the stage with wrecking-ball force. Now keep in mind, I'd been wrestling teenagers all evening to keep my spot near the front. I was kicked, called names and jabbed in the ribs repeatedly, but I was determined to stay up there so we could see our heroes up close. Well, the stage rush hurt all of us, and sent Meghan into a full-blown super asthma attack; one that we couldn't get back under control. So we had to fight our way out of the crowd and into the back to save our kid! It was heart-breaking. Once she could breathe again, we could see how crushed she was to be that close and then have to be hauled away from her heroes. When American Authors came on stage Meghan cried a fair bit through the first few songs, but soon we were able to settle down and enjoy just being in the same room with them. THEY ARE AMAZING! Some bands just don't sound as good live as they do on the radio-well this band surpassed all expectations. So good, so happy, so positive and fun to be with!

Though I was reveling in the fact that I was seeing these guys live, the mother in me was a wreck about Meghan. I felt so bad I had to pull her out of there. I knew I had just squashed one of her dreams. So I prayed. Yup-prayed. During the whole time my band was playing and I was dancing I prayed that something could happen to turn our night around. And it did. During the last song, Zach Barnett announced that if we could just stick around for a bit, they would come out and try to meet some of the fans. I've never moved so fast to get in a line in my life! And we met them. And they're wonderful. They are warm and kind and fun and genuine. They turned our night back around completely. I'm a grateful mom, a grateful wife (Chad supported this even though he had to be up at 4:30 the next morning) and a grateful fan....

Best Day of My Life!

Dave, Zach, Meghan, Me, Matt and James

To the Masses

This one goes out to....well....everyone. This entry is dedicated to all the people who have touched my life. I'm grateful for each and every single one of you.

I've had a week where I have repeatedly doubted myself. I have felt intimidated and ignored and unimportant. I realize this is something I do way too often, and I'm hoping by the time I have "grown up" I will have grown out of this a little bit.  When I get feeling this way, sooner or later I realize it is time to put things back into perspective and re-set my thinking. I like to be happy! One thing  that helps me with this process is to concentrate on the people in my life, and what I have gained from them. The messages they have given me and the lessons I have learned from them. And how I feel because of them.

First and foremost, I feel loved. Because I truly am surrounded by amazing people in every aspect of my life, the truth of the matter is that I shouldn't doubt...but I am human after all and this will happen from time to time. Nevertheless, I am grateful to be reminded of who I am blessed to have near me.

So thank you to each of you. Thanks for letting me be someone that you know. Thanks for your friendship, your acceptance, and encouragement. Thanks for loving me, teaching me, and associating with me. Thanks for caring, thanks for checking, thanks for setting me straight when I don't get things right. Thanks for thinking of me, for acknowledging my existence, and validating my presence. Thanks for teaching me who I need to be, and who I don't want to be. Thanks for helping me learn lessons, even if they were hard and I had to come to the point where I knew I had to move on. Thanks for helping me to realize I am far from perfect, but that I want to get closer to perfect than I am. Thanks for helping me be happy with what I have and realizing what I do have. Thanks for criticizing me so I can make improvements and for thanking me when I do things right. Thank you for shaping me into me. I can't do it without you. I depend on you, and I'm grateful.

Thanks to the man who loves me through it all!

Everyone is Beautiful

I am a self-professed people watcher. I love watching the diversity, variety, behavior, mannerisms, personalities,  and habits in people.  I love being in public places (airports, theme parks, beaches, etc) and watching with curiosity,  wonder, awe, (and sometimes horrified fascination) the human race. I love the fact that we are born to be individuals, and that it was divinely constructed to be that way.

Something that occurs to me often is that people are beautiful.  Everyone is beautiful...and not just "in his or her own way". We were all born with the Light of Christ,  which is a beautiful thing in and of itself,  but each individual spirit is beautiful too. I love searching for beauty,  and especially in people.

I have found,  however,  that one thing that makes a difference in a person's beauty is their behavior.  I can meet a person who is beautiful,  and as soon as that person does something kind and selfless they immediately become even more beautiful than they were before.  I realize this is my personal perception, but I'm betting many people have witnessed this phenomenon. I'll admit this can go the opposite direction.  Watching people be mean can change my perception of their beauty as well. But  I believe that most humans are generally good,  and so their  beauty increases more often than not. I'm hoping this happens with me as well. I hope that each act of kindness I do will give more space for heavenly light to shine from me,  and that I don't succumb  to unkind things very often. My goal is never,  but as I'm human I know I will have to be vigilant about it.

 I think everyone wants to feel beautiful...and there is a way to add to beauty every day. I am surrounded by absolutely beautiful people,  and I'm grateful.

A Little Cuteness

The things that get me through my work day sometimes are under 5 feet tall. They are full of cuteness, mischievousness and light. They make me smile.

Last week a darling first grader walked up to me during a crazy, hectic, out-of-control lunch time.

Boy: Miss, Heather, I'm so so sorry but there's a gallon of pee over there on the floor.

Me: What?

Boy: Over there by the garbage. I spilled some. There's a gallon of pee over there.

Me: Okay honey-why don't you show me where?

We walked over to the garbage cans and every pea that had been on his tray had rolled onto the floor. It was all I could do not to fall over laughing. I assured him this happens to everyone and set about cleaning it up.


Then while testing a kindergartener for reading, she interrupted the test and this is how the conversation went...

Girl: Do you know I was never born?

Me: Really? Wow! How come?

Girl: Well my dad had this dog that he really loved. She was really old and had the same name as me. She died right before I came, and well, here she is!

Me: Wow! So you're the dog?

Girl: Yup! Now my dad doesn't have to be sad anymore!

And finally today, one of my long time admirers walked up to me. She has been known to hug me tightly then hang from what ever part of me she is attached to. Recently she was told by another adult that her hugs like that were a little too big. Reluctantly she let go and with slumped shoulders walked down the hall. Today during lunch she walked over to have a little chat.

Girl: Heather, I just love you.

Me: Well I love you too!

Girl: Well I love you most. I love you so much I just really, really want to SQUEEZE you! (she stood there literally shaking, her little fists clenched and shaking from her head to her toes.)  Needless to say, I felt loved.

There are fun moments I get to enjoy like this on a regular basis. I love the sunshine I receive from all my kiddos! I'm grateful.

In Defense

It's got to be said. It is time.

I love America. I love my country, my freedoms, my heritage. I love patriotism. I love hope and goodness. Songs like our National Anthem and The Battle Hymn of the Republic and so many other patriotic songs not only make me think of America and all it stands for~ they are also bright symbols of hope, faith, and all the things I cherish as an American Citizen. I love those songs, and the feelings they give me anywhere, anytime. They make me happy and grateful. They always bring a feeling of unity to those who enjoy America. And we listen with grateful hearts all through each year.

So let's talk about Christmas music. I know, I know...it's only September you say. Well, I am listening to Christmas music. It makes me feel the same way!  I was raised on it. It makes me happy.  It gives me hope. It reminds me of faith and family and all I've been blessed with. It embodies everything good. I love it. It keeps Christ in my thoughts. It makes me want to do good.

This morning choir practice began at my school. Guess what they were singing? Yup-Christmas music. And it made me feel great. It made the kids feel great too. Because they see the joy in it, and not the stress. They live in the feeling it gives them and not the rush of getting the season here. They understand that Christmas isn't just a day, or even a season~it's a state of the heart and where our hearts should always be. Grateful. Full of faith and joy and hope. So I will keep listening, and loving it. I'm not rushing Christmas here, just keeping it close to me always. And I am grateful.

The Spice of Life

I was recently tagged in a post on Facebook: 5 days, 5 blessings, 5 friends. I'm always looking for the good things in life, so this seemed like a fun opportunity to take advantage of. It should have been easy. I keep a gratitude journal that I write in almost daily. As I was posting these things on Facebook and it was only 5 blessings a day, I really had to give it some thought.

One of the blessings that I came up with is Variety in People. I agree whole-heartedly with the notion that variety is the spice of life. Especially  in people! I don't think that there is a person alive who could stand to live with a billion copies of themselves. I know I'd be insane within a week-if not sooner.

It was ironic (or maybe divinely inspired) to me that not a few days after I had posted this blessing, I had a true taste of variety. I went to Salt Lake Comic Con. And oh the variety there...on so many levels. Rich, poor, tall, short, skinny, black, blue, purple, loud, quiet, wonderfully imaginative, plainly dressed, happy, scared, overwhelmed, fascinating, geeky, intelligent, amazing people surrounded me-in quite close proximity. It was one of the most fun, overwhelming, over-stimulating, fascinating, eye-opening experiences I have ever had. In all those emotions, I absolutely enjoyed myself. I think everyone should experience something like that at least once in their lives.

One of the absolute coolest things that dawned on me there is that in all that variety, I was surrounded by all my brothers and sisters. I remembered that we all share the same Creator. That God sent each one of them here at the same time as me. That I have a connection to every single one of them. In theory (and in my heart) I know this, but sometimes the differences around me stand out as something to be wary of instead of something to celebrate. In those hours that I was in a setting with so many walks of life with so many interests and backgrounds and cultures (real and imagined) I was connected. Everyone there was cool, and everyone there fit in. I want life to be that way, and I realize I have to be a part of that to make it happen. It doesn't mean I will celebrate every difference, or every action, or every decision that is different from mine, but I will celebrate the fact that we ARE different and that adds a lot of nice flavor to life.