Sick of being sad?

Tonight's FHE was a fireside-type thing. Our old high councilman's wife spoke a little about her conversion story, and a lot about her childhood. She lost her mother to an illness at the age of 11, and by the age of 12 her alcoholic father committed suicide. She grew then moved in with a family that introduced her to the church, but seemed to not provide any actual love for her or her sister.

Through all of this, she is one of the happiest people I've ever encountered, and she said that it was because she decided one day, "I'm sick of being sad."

And that was it.

After that, no matter what life has thrown her way, she has sought to be as happy as she can be. And it's an important lesson that I think we need to remember. We can't choose some of the garbage we have to put up with. If we hate our lives... If we are living on zero sleep because of work, school and family drama... Whatever life throws our way, we have to remember that it is part of life and we have to continue to work our ways through it.

But we do not have to be sad.

Being sad is a choice. Granted, there are bouts of sadness. You are entitled to grief and mourning and loss for whatever reason. But you do not have to go day to day being sad, depressed and unhappy.

So if you are living your life sad, depressed and unhappy -- CHEER UP! Count your blessings. Find something that you enjoy. And know, that life is life. And some of us aren't blessed with abounding love and full bank accounts. We have to make do with what we have, and we have to remember that the Savior is there and the Atonement is real and covers all of those feelings.

Sandbagging

For FHE last week, we wanted to do something service-oriented. Since the people in Utah are continually praying for moisture, and spring has been particularly snowy and wet this year (who says prayers aren't answered?) that means runoff puts us at the risk for flooding - click here if you want to see the areas of impact expected.

Personally, in the seven years that I've lived in Utah, I haven't seen a real need for the moisture that people keep praying for. I remember walking to a graduation party in Ohio, saying how glad I was that I would probably never have to walk through wet grass again, because I was moving to a desert.

Well, that's not quite true. Not only did I not move to a desert. (Utah County is considered a steppe climate), I also have to walk through wet grass all the time. I have not yet seen a need for prayers with regards to precipitation, but I'm not a farmer and water has always run freely from any tap of any place I've lived. I'm sure I take water for granted...

Anyway, in preparation for the flooding, the Provo mayor has written a whole blog on what to expect and how to get sandbags (here) and the city is accepting volunteers to bag sand. (Did you know? Provo has the highest volunteer rate in the nation. Between 2006 and 2009, our average annual volunteer rate was 63.6%, and Provo residents, like the BYU student in the photo above, devoted an average of 149.7 hours of service per year.)

Bag sand... It's something that, from what I can tell, has been done for a really long time in order to curtail the raging waters of snow melt, saturated riverbeds and flooded natural levees, but it isn't something I've ever done. I guess growing up in Ohio - and more specifically Troy - we were lucky that the levee was built in such exaggerated terms that unless God decides to flood the earth again (multiple sightings of rainbows already this year tells me that it won't be this year!), I don't think flooding from the Ohio river is much of a threat. Still, Ohio is wet. And I'm surprised that we haven't done more sandbagging when I was growing up.

It was hard work, and I didn't expect to like it. The weather was rainy and nippy, and before I warmed up to the task, my fingers were numb with cold, making every time I hit them against something sting with pain. But sometimes it is nice to get your hands dirty, and get sand under your nails. No, that isn't right. It isn't nice to get little granules under your nails, and I should have definitely worn gloves before I decided to plunge my hand into the sand, but whatever. After a while, my hands were numb and I didn't notice when I took a chunk of skin out of my knuckle. My little group of three worked alone on one side of the sand dune while the rest of the group was on the other side.

We were trying to come up with the most efficient way to fill the bags, and came up with a very quick method of having one person set up the bags under the "funnel" (an orange construction cone, mounted upside down on a wooden horse) while another shovels in the sand, the third person removed the bag from the station and tied it.

It was hard work, and we were complaining of back aches and pains, and if I had gone much longer on the shovel, I would have definitely gotten blisters. But the efficiency and the tangible evidence of our labors made it worth it. And our groups was really kicking butt! Six shovelfuls filled the bag (probably a little too full) and we did almost five at one time. At one point, we figured out how many bags a minute, but I don't remember the figure.

This picture isn't from our group, but it shows the tools we were using. The girl on the right is using a sandbag as a chair. My group didn't do that - I was on my knees most the time, moving from one cone to the next. There wasn't time to just sit in one spot.

It was nice to do something different than childhood games and such for FHE, and afterward, we were treated to an ice cream cone from Macy's.

Seven Peeps

Welcome to Seven Peeps! The most popular water park in town for the most righteous Peeps out there!

Boasting a wicked water slide and awesome pool - it is bound to attract all sorts of chicks and fowl!

DUDE! THIS. IS. AWESOME!

Every Peep will agree, the water slide is a MUST DO before you get old and stale!

Everyone deserves a little time to relax!

Created by these guys.

Peep slayer.

Chez Peep

Entering Chez Peep

" Écouter Welcome to Chez Peep, the finest restaurant for the most fashionable Peeps this season."

I am Rene Petit, and will be your waiter this evening.

We are delighted to offer several specials this evening. Master Phillipe has already decided. Unfortunately, his wife Marguerite is quite indecisive.

Indecisive she may be, but she is certainly one of the most fashionable ladies here this evening. You would do well to introduce yourself to her before you leave.

Marguerite's brother-in-law, Monsieur Laroche has also joined us this evening. He is very well-liked, and I think that you will agree, has the finest taste out of everyone here - whether it be food or style, he is someone to be emulated. 

His wife, on the other hand, wouldn't know style if it clipped her wings. That purple pom-pom on her head is so last season! If only she had followed Mademoiselle Aimee, and worn the pom-poms around her waist, she would be more in style. Honestly, I don't know how Mr. Laroche puts up with the vulgarity. I might add, Phillipe is looking rather dashing. (I hear that Madam Laroche has been trying to get her beak in to Phillipe for some time, but he is absolutely enamored with his own wife, that he has not noticed. It is really, rather sweet. But as I've already mentioned - once his mind is made up, it is made up!

Of course, Monsieur Laroche is well-aware of his wife's attempt at betrayal. Do not fear, he has her well under control. After all, he is the one that knows her favorite dish at Chez Peep!

Mademoiselle Cherie is a favorite, obviously, as she is the daughter of the owner. Her favorite dish is what you see before you. It is a pasta... well, needless to say, something worth trying. But!...

...You shouldn't stand here all day. Please let me escort you to your table.

Au revoir! Please come again!