There's No Place Like Home

I think I have figured out one of the most pressing questions known to mankind; Why, when it comes to using the bathroom, is there no place like home? I have pondered this question at different times in my life, especially when I have been speeding home to get to "my" bathroom as sweat drips gently from my brow and the old digestive track is working overtime so as to make you think that maybe, just maybe your having an appendicitis attack---wait, I had those things out years ago! And of course, that is when you hit all the red lights in town, get behind the tractor moving slowly down main street(and taking up both lanes I might add). Then FINALLY you're home. You jump (cautiously) out of the car and race up the stairs, singing the Hallelujah Chorus. You have arrived to that wonderful place of utter relief--dun dun dun--your personal commode and all is well with the world again!
Why, you might say, did Janice bring this up? Well, I'm glad you asked! :) I was at a conference in Salt Lake a couple of weeks ago and went in to use the "facilities"(that's the politically correct term for "bathroom" in the higher end hotels) and to my utter surprise and delight, each stall actually had a floor to ceiling door on it? Yes, it's true! You mean I can't sit there and lock eyes with someone through the 2" space between the door and wall as they wash their hands and glance at me in the mirror? Or someone can't see underneath the door as the contents of my pockets fall onto the floor, or check to see if I have a hole in my sock cause I need to give my feet a breather and take off my shoes? Or, heaven forbid, see if I really just put my purse on the bathroom floor?! What kind of a woman is IN that stall? Anyway, I felt something I hadn't felt in a public bathroom for a very long time if ever------complete privacy!!! Wow, that's why we race home! I get it! Privacy where we don't have to play with the toilet paper holder, or rustle with the toilet seat protectors or keep flushing the toilet just to make noise because all of a sudden when you go in, it doesn't matter how many people are in there, you can hear a pin drop. Moral of the story? If you are ever far, far away from home and your body gives you "the nudge", just get to the nearest, nicest hotel lobby and maybe, just maybe, they will have a "facility" with floor to ceiling doors! But always remember, there's no place like home! Happy Day!! :)

Forgiveness Verses Trust

In a book I'm reading(yes it's for school so prepared to be taught! ha ha), I came across some really good information about forgiveness and trust. I know that sometimes we think that when we forgive someone, trust is part of the process. This is not the case if behaviors haven't changed. The origin of the English word forgiveness meant "letting go." Years ago you would have heard someone say, "Forgive the ropes," when they wanted you to let go of the ropes. Forgiveness is the act of facing the pain and anger that someone has brought into your life and letting go of any need or desire to pay that person back.
Trust, on the other hand, is a confidence in the integrity of a person to act in a particular way. Forgiveness is past oriented; trust is present and future focused. Forgiveness is about letting go; trust is about holding on. Forgiveness is something undeserved; trust is something earned.
Example: Lets say I'm a therapist and at the end of our session we stand up to leave the room, and you open the door for me and politely offer, "After you." But just as I walk through the door, wham-you slam it on the back of my heel. As I double over in pain, you profusely apologize, explaining that I had said something in the session that upset you and you lost all impulse control as I walked out the door.
"I reassure you that I will forgive you, and we set our next appointment. Once again, after the appointment, you hold the door for me. I walk through but then wham- you slam my heel in the door just like the first time. I pick myself up off the floor to hear you begging my forgiveness again, explaining that once more I had angered you and you were unable to contain your fury.
At this point I would forgive you but would never trust you to hold the door open for me again.
Trust is the ground from which all your expectations grow. It encompasses every aspect of a person-from something as simple as calling when you said you would call to being where you said you would be.
In a society where phrases like, "it's not worth the paper it's written on," are prevalent, we need to get back to the good old days when a man's word was his bond and if you shook hands on a deal it was as good as done. I was thinking about when we bought our cabin lot. Jeffrey had talked with the man that owned it and the man and Jeffrey had secured a deal over the phone. When the man got home, he received another phone call about the property where they were willing to pay a substantial amount more for the lot. This man had integrity and told him that he had just given his word to Jeffrey and it was sold. There was no contract and this man could have made a lot more money but he had given his word. This man had integrity. I will get off my teaching soapbox now. :)
Conference was great and Easter was exciting since the Easter Bunny had to borrow Santa's Sleigh to get to my house. :) Hope you are doing well and love to you all!!! Happy Day!
Thought for the day: " To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible. "

Thanks So Much!!

Thanks so much for all of your positive feedback on getting into BYU"s Graduate Program!! I'll continue to need lots of prayers as I continue!
Last week was a really full week. I am doing an internship with the DCFS Domestic Violence Unit. I spent Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday at the State Domestic Violence Training. I then spent Saturday in Salt Lake at the Utah Coalition against Pornography Conference. My brain is on overload big time! There is a lot of helpful information out there. I am putting together a workshop called, "Beware: Potential Relationship Problems Go High Tech"., and will be presenting it to various groups. I will be talking about potential problems of online pornography, online relationships etc. My goal is to get the public educated so they know what to look out for for themselves and for their children. Pretending it's not a problem or that it can't or won't happen to you is definitely part of the problem. Technology is fabulous but can also be lethal and addictive. For warned is for armed! Ok, I'll get off my soapbox now! :)
I am so grateful for my family and friends. Knowing that you are there rooting for me is and always will be a major blessing in my life. LOVE TO YOU ALL and Happy Day!!!!! :)
Thought for the day: I couldn't repair your brakes, so I made your horn louder.

I Got In!!!!!

Oh my gosh I can't believe it but I got accepted into the BYU Masters in Social Work Program! I am still in shock but I'm soooo excited! I graduate from UVU on April 30th and then its on to Grad school. Me?! Wow! I have been so blessed and it just goes to show that miracles do happen! Happy Day!!!!!!:)

Burdens

Yesterday in class we talked about burdens and what they were. After several answers, all which had a negative connotation to them, the instructor asked if there were such things as positive burdens that we bear. Interesting question. In the Ensign it states that the way we respond to trials can have a great effect on whether they become roadblocks in our lives or expressways to learning and growth. When we anguish over difficulties, the experiences only serve to weigh us down. Remembering that these trials are part of the great plan of happiness helps us to see them as opportunities to grow and learn.
A common misunderstanding among members of the Church is that if we strive with all our might to live the commandments, nothing bad will happen to us. Not true. Remember that Orson F. Whitney of the Quorum of the Twelve explained:" No pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted. It ministers to our education, to the development of such qualities as patience, faith, fortitude and humility. All that we suffer and all that we endure, especially when we endure it patiently, builds up our characters, purifies our hearts, and makes us more tender and charitable. It is through sorrow and suffering, toil and tribulation, that we gain the education that we come here to acquire. Spiritual growth can often be achieved more readily by trials and adversity than by comfort and tranquility."
We are not always healed from pain and sickness, sometimes we are "healed" by being given strength or understanding or patience to bear the burdens placed upon us. (Dallin H. Oaks)
I am grateful for the Gospel in my life because I have felt the tender mercies of the Lord in my life many times. Knowing that the Lord knows me personally and knows how best to help me reach my potential here on this earth, helps me to have faith that all will be well even and especially in times of trial.
Love to everyone and happy day!
Thought for the day: Be confident enough that you won't settle for a compromise just to get by.

You Call That a Pick Up Line?

So the other day I was walking out of the library and overheard a very interesting conversation. A guy was walking in and said to a really cute girl, "Are you ok?" Well the girl looked confused and told him that she was and why he asked. He proceeds to tell her that she looked like she was LIMPING as she walked.--Ok, does anybody besides me see a problem here? Really? REALLY?! Well the girl told him there was nothing wrong with her legs (they looked ok to me)but she WASN'T amused by his comment. I, however, was VERY amused and chuckled all the way to my class. Wow, that was a new pick up line I'd never heard before and to tell the truth, hope I never hear again! ha ha ha
Life is still crazy and I still feel very blessed AND graduation is next month. HOLY COW!!! Hallelujah!!! Happy Day!
Thought for the day:What some people mistake for the high cost of living is really the cost of high living.

NINE WORDS WOMEN USE

1) FINE: This is the word women use to end an argument when they are right and you need to shut up.
2)FIVE MINUTES: If she is getting dressed, this means a half an hour. Five minutes is only five minutes if you have just been given five more minutes to watch the game before helping around the house.
3:NOTHING: This is the calm before the storm. This means something, and you should be on your toes. Arguments that begin with nothing usually end in fine.
4)GO AHEAD: This is a dare, not permission. Don't do it!!
5)LOUD SIGH:This is actually a word, but is a non-verbal statement often misunderstood by men. A loud sigh means she thinks you are an idiot and wonders why she is wasting her time standing here and arguing with you about nothing.(Refer back to #3 for the meaning of nothing.)
6)THATS OKAY: This is one of the most dangerous statements a woman can make to a man. That's okay means she wants to think long and hard before deciding how and when you will pay for your mistake.
7)THANKS: A woman is thanking you, do not question, or faint. Just say you're welcome.(I want to add a clause here-This is true, unless she says "Thanks a lot"-that is PURE sarcasm and she is not thanking you at all. DO NOT say "you're welcome", that will bring on a "whatever" )
8)WHATEVER: Is a woman's way of saying "UP YOURS!"
9)DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT, I GOT IT: Another dangerous statement, meaning this is something that a woman has told a man to do several times, but is now doing it herself. This will later result in a man asking "What's wrong?" For the woman's response refer to #3.