Work Conversations 2

"Text it to me. I'll ignore it."

"The maintenance guy in the bed next to me..."

"I don't know anybody who works in the temple. I've never been there."

"Seriously? How much snot do they have on that floor?"

"That falcon is a bad person!"

"What's with all the Mormons on Temple Square?"

"No, I want him to sweat: 'Oh, no! They've hire someone to take my place!'"

"Why do they have to do their work during the day while we're working?"

"I think maybe I'm getting what you've got." (said to a pregnant woman)

Sweet Experiences

A co-worker just began serving as an ordinance worker at the Salt Lake Temple. She began this service very excited but more than a little apprehensive. Today I asked her how it was going. She was so overwhelmed with emotion that she could hardly talk. Finally she said, "I will never leave the temple."

In these few six words, spoken simply and reverently, can be found lessons for people of all ages:

Children: You haven't been into the temple yet, but maybe you've been to the temple grounds. Did you touch the temple building? The prophet has said that we should touch the temple so that the temple can touch us. The feelings we get while we are on the grounds of the House of the Lord are the feelings that we should try to keep with us all the time, because that is the best kind of happiness there is. A young friend from some years ago, Jason, said, "I just wanted to hug the temple." I never want to leave that feeling!

Teens: Some of you have been into the temple. You've seen the beginning ordinance, as performed by someone holding the proper authority. You know the beauty of the building. I hope you realize that that beauty is not just "skin deep." The temple is a beautiful edifice, built to glorify God; but its construction is just its appearance. The real beauty of the temple is what happens inside. The temple--the ordinances performed in the temple--strengthens, helps, leads, and blesses people. Should we not try to emulate that? What if we strengthened someone today? Helped them? Blessed them? Serving others is a way to never leave the temple.

Adults: To quote my friend--Life is hard. And then it gets harder. This doesn't mean that life is unhappy. In fact, I think as it gets harder, it also becomes more rewarding. Temple ceremonies symbolize this. We take baby steps (line upon line, precept upon precept) back to God. We can take them quickly or slowly, depending on our choices. We can even step backward. But if we never leave the temple, we will progress forward. Sometimes baby steps might include finding the strength to do yet another load of laundry, make it out of bed an into work, or NOT yell when we really want to. But if we never leave the temple we are given the power to do exactly that. And more. Daily. Hourly, if necessary.

I will never leave the temple.

I believe that will be my new motto.

Words I Never Expected to Hear

"Mom, turn the station to 106.5. It's Show Tune Saturday Night!"

(It would have been even more shocking if it had been one of our boys. :)

People I Love

There is a man at work named Larvas. (I'm not joking. His name is Larvas. If you or a person you love is named Larvas, you have my sincere condolences. If you have or are planning to name your child Larvas, you ought to be ashamed of yourself.)

HOWEVER.

Larvas is living, breathing proof that your name does not have to create your reality. (But be kind, just in case!) Sure, he wears really geeky glasses. OK, his hair is not super fashionable. And--he works as a custodian.

BUT!

Larvas is maybe the most friendly, happy, non-weird man I work with. This is a man who answers radio calls, phone calls, and emails all day long about trash. He is the recycling, shredding, trash-can-delivery get-it-done man. And he is always cheerful. And he adores his wife. And he is grateful to have work. And he is trusted by everyone. And even the most irritated, impatient customers are glad to have such a pleasant man come to their rescue.

Larvas is a good man.

I Hate Tuesdays

That is all.

What's Not to Love?

My friend always says, "I love it!" As you may or may not have noticed, I have now started saying the same thing. However, it got me thinking about things I don't love. Here are a few:

People who will not patiently wait their turn in line.

Macaroni and cheese. Also hot dogs.

Unwashed hair.

Pets that run/climb/sniff all over me.

Testimonies that aren't really testimonies.

The phone ringing in the middle of the night.

Doing yard work.

Bad or overwhelming smells.

Movies with 70's endings.

Too little sleep.

Can You Buy a Warranty Against the Dog?

Landon left his glasses on the deck. I don't know why. I can't figure out how he managed to play a game of lacrosse without his glasses on his face.

Nevertheless, this morning, the glasses were on the deck. Next to the Frisbee.

Until it was WAY PAST time for him to leave for school. He had no idea where the glasses were. And then I had no idea where the glasses were. He said they weren't in his room. I found they weren't on the deck.

Don't worry we found them.

In three pieces (that we found so far).

With incriminating teeth marks on them.

Question of the day: Should I be angry with Landon? Or Bella?

Happy Worth Day!

From Amy's blog:

I used to work with this lady named Kim and she thought it was unfair to only celebrate her kids once a year (on their birthday) so she celebrated their “worth day” every single month. She didn’t go all out or anything, no parties, cake, or favorite foods. Just a nice note with a candybar, or a phone call in the middle of the day saying “happy worth day, I’m glad you were born”. I think that’s nice.

I think today is a Worth Day for the following reasons:

1. It is no longer Tuesday.
2. Ashytn rode 20 miles yesterday, in spite of fighting the worst cold ever.
3. Lisa performed a marvelous solo piano recital yesterday. So much fun!
4. Karleen's daughter is going to graduate!
5. We've killed three GINORMOUS flies in our office today. And, believe it or not, I got the last kill--all by myself!
6. It's spring. Best. Spring. Ever.

Let's celebrate!

Play Nice!

Remember when you had those car fights when you were kids? Mo-om! Brant's touching me! What was Mom's answer? 99% of the time the answer was, "Play nice!"

One day when I was teaching preschool, one of the little girls came up to me and said, "Teacher! Amanda looked at me!" It happened to be a field trip day, so about 8 moms were sitting there snickering and watching me to see what I would do. I rolled my eyes, looked at that dear little girl and said--you guessed it--"Play nice!"

Every Tuesday I come out of staff meeting frustrated. This team undermined that team. The other team didn't communicate with us. He's pointing his finger that him. That tool doesn't fit what I'm trying to do with my people. I do this, he does that.

Seriously? Just play nice!

Bike for the Cure

Today Ashtyn and several of her schoolmates are biking 20 miles to benefit the Huntsman Cancer Foundation. This is a week-long activity for the entire middle school. Yesterday 1/4 of the students rode 10 miles. Today 1/4 of them will ride 20 miles. Tomorrow is a 30 mile ride, and Thursday is a 40 mile ride.

When they held their kickoff assembly, there were very few children whose lives had not been affected by cancer. Some have had parents, grandparents, or siblings die from this disease.

This is from the Huntsman Cancer Foundation's website:

Huntsman Cancer Foundation's sole purpose is to fund the mission of Huntsman Cancer Institute: to understand cancer from its beginnings, to use that knowledge in the creation and improvement of cancer treatments, to relieve the suffering of cancer patients, and to provide education about cancer risk, prevention, and care.

The Huntsman Cancer Foundation gives a Reason to Hope® to cancer patients and their families and is dedicated to funding cancer research, cancer treatment and education programs, research and patient-care facilities, and to ensuring excellence in these endeavors through the development and prudent stewardship of private resources.

If you would like to help Ashtyn and her classmates in this fabulous activity, please donate:

Huntsman Cancer Foundation
500 Huntsman Way
Salt Lake City, Utah 84108
huntsmancancerfoundation.org
Call: (801) 584-5800