A girl and her flour.

This picture doesn't have much to do with anything aside from the fact there's a flower in my hair.

Plus I was already Mama's little helper in the kitchen by then.

I have a great friendship with flour. Last semester I came to love my sewing machine and the library, but this semester, I've grown to have a love affair with flour. There's something especially therapeutic about kneading dough and smelling the yeast in the oven. Last, Thursday was particularly rough day, but things started to get better when I made some biscuits with leftover buttermilk. I know I should have been exercising and sweating sickness away, but my body was screaming at me to hold still, so I opted to bake instead. I'm pretty sure its in my blood.

U.S.A.

9:17 pm

Brain to Annie, "You should really finish your final speech for public speaking on Thursday."

Annie to Brain, "I've been trying to for the past 3 hours, but it turns out there are quite a few ways you can speak about voting."

Brain to Annie, "Maybe you should take a break and look at some inspiration instead of information."

Annie to Brain, "Genius idea, lets go make a quick playlist of all my favorite American marches and patriotic songs.

..............................................................15 minutes later..........................................................

9:33 pm

Brain to Annie, "I think it's time to get back to work."

Annie to Brain, "Really?!?! I'm really enjoying this and you know I do so much better when I can talk through things with someone other than you."

Brain to Annie, "Yep, it's time and I promise you'll thank me tomorrow, just you wait."

Annie to Brain, "OK, I guess I'll listen to your logic tonight, considering you do tend to know what's best."

 

9:39 

Time to write the world's best 5 minute persuasive speech on voting. Wish me luck! 

Manna

n. man-na. /ˈmanə/  

      1. Bread sent from heaven to the Israelites while they wandered through the wilderness (Exodus 16:4,15). 

      2. Spiritual nourishment.

Midterms have taken over my life and pushed family history to the backburner for a few weeks, but I still managed to find time to bake some Challah Bread.By definition, Challah Bread is the most delicious homemade bread one could bake. Actually, it is a traditional Jewish bread eaten on Shabbat and is symbolic of the Manna that fell from heaven while the Israelites wandered through the wilderness. 

During these busy few weeks I have received some personal Manna. Most prominently:

1. An amazing relief society lesson yesterday and about sanctifying myself. We discussed how our bodies are temples. Just like physical temples that are beautiful edifices on the outside, I need to take care of my physical appearance. But the most important part of temples in what happens inside of them, so I too, need to pay extra attention to what I let in my body. What media do I watch, what music do I listen to, what are my thoughts? Are they where they should be?

2. “You are good. But it is not enough just to be good. You must be good for something. You must contribute good to the world. The world must be a better place for your presence. And the good that is in you must be spread to others. … But in this world so filled with problems, so constantly threatened by dark and evil challenges, you can and must rise above mediocrity, above indifference. You can become involved and speak with a strong voice for that which is right…. you cannot simply sit in your laboratory or your library and let the world drift along its aimless way. It needs your strength, your courage, your voice in speaking up for those values that can save it. If this university meets the purpose for which it is maintained, then you must leave here not alone with secular knowledge but, even more important, with a spiritual and moral foundation that will find expression to improve the family, the community, the nation, even the world of which you will be a part." President Gordon B. Hinkley (Stand Up for Truth, 1996).

I could go on and on, but academia is calling my name.

The History Book

To say that I went overboard last year is an understatement. I was appointed to be my high school's Sr. historian for 2010-2011. I took my job very seriously and ended up taking over 60,000 photos. Part of my job was compiling a History Book (pretty much a scrabook, but I'm not a scrapbooker, so mine is more of a photo book). As I've put on the finishing touches, I've had to go back through my yearbook and find some specific details I forgot. Tonight I read some of the notes people wrote and it amazes me how just a few sentences from a friend can brighten up my night. So thank you History Book, for making me look back at my yearbook and thank you friends for being so kind.

Thoughts on a Monday

This photo doesn't have much to do with the post, but wouldn't it be wonderful to look so lovely at age 90.

As I've read through journals and gone through boxes and boxes of family photos and records, I've learned that many of my ancestors had a tendency to write down little thought and quotes. I think their wisdom is still completely applicable to us, so each Monday I'll share a thought or two I've found in my searches. Here's a little poem that's quite the tongue twister and a riddle I had no success figuring out.

A Little Rhyme

Give a little, live a little, try a little myrth,

Sing a little, bring a little happiness to earth;

Pray a little, play a little, be a little glad, 

Rest a little, jest a little, if the heart it sad.

Spend a little, send a little to anothers door,

Give a little, love a little, live a little, love a little more.

-Anon. 

A Riddle

I am a little thing with a big meaning. I help everybody. I unlock doors, open hearts, dispel prejudice. I create friendships and good will. I inspire respect and admiration. Everybody loves me. I bore no one. I violate no law. I cost nothing. Many have praised me, none have ever condemned me. I am pleasing to those of high and low degree. I am useful every moment of the day.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. I am courtesy. 

"If you don't know where to start

Start with yourself." This little nugget of wisdom come from an article by President Packer. If you feel overwhelmed with the prospect of starting a personal history, I would suggest you start by simply writing in a journal. Go to the store, pick out an aesthetically pleasing journal or notebook and get started. All you have to do is write for 5 minutes a day and within no time at all you'll see pages filled with stories information that will be fun to look back on and helpful to your posterity.

How do you make journal writing worthwhile?

Begins your journal with a thought. I dedicate the title page of each new journal to a poem, quote, scripture, or song lyrics. In many ways, it is how I title that chapter of my life. In my current journal, I began with my favorite speech from Samwise Gamgee to Frodo in The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King. My favorite part says, "Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn't. They kept going. Because they were holding on to something." So while I am in college, I am working to endure to the end because it is worth it.

During my Jr. Year, I worked in Washington DC. On the plane ride there, I started a fresh blank journal with the lyrics from the song "Astonishing". It turns out I picked the perfect "title" because the months held in that journal proved to me that there was somewhere I could be astonishing.  Sometimes it takes me a few weeks of writing to choose some fitting words, but once I do it helps me set the tone for my journals. It's almost like picking out a motto for what you will write. 

Make it more than a journal. This is my current journal. Since I'm not the greatest scrapbooker, I've simplified my life and included some scrapbook elements like pictures. I modge podged the covers with doodles and photos to make it something I would want to write in. 

These particular pages are from when I went on Pioneer Trek. My Ma and I had a lovely time picking wildflowers along the trail, so I pressed them between the pages of my journal. On the bus ride home from Wyoming I "laminated" them in tape.

I tape in movie and event tickets to help trigger memories and provide correct information.

I also throw in plane tickets and other memorabilia from trips like this leaf from DC in the fall.

Write letters to future posterity. I'm sure this sounds odd, but sometimes when I'm stuck in a rut and don't know what to write, I write to my children and grandchildren. It gives me motivation to write because I can picture my posterity reading through my journal one day and seeing a letter just for them. I try and share bits wisdom from my young adult brain while telling stories about my life. It helps to know I am writing for someone, not just for myself.

Writing in a journal can be overwhelming at times, but I've found it to be so rewarding. Plus, I love to look back and see how much I've grown. It's as easy as picking up a notebook and writing for just a few minutes a day. In the words of Maud Hart Lovelace, “Isn't it mysterious to begin a new journal like this? I can run my fingers through the fresh clean pages but I cannot guess what the writing on them will be.”