They Love Me, They Really Love Me!

Have you ever been rejected? I have to admit, I don't have much experience in that area. I never had an official boyfriend before Darin, so I never had to break up with someone. I've never been fired from a job (I was given a warning once, when I worked at ShopKo, so I promptly quit before I got fired). I've never even been refused a credit card. I never tried out for any club in high school, never ran for class president or anything, so I was never rejected (if you don't try, you don't fail, right? That was my philosophy back then.)

I've failed at many things (sewing, losing weight, staying caught up on laundry, full-term pregnancy...the list could go on and on), but have rarely been fully rejected. So yesterday when I got the letter in the mail informing me that I didn't get the preschool job I applied for, I felt the awful weight of rejection. Granted, I would have turned it down anyway, because it just didn't feel right. But my ego would have preferred that I turn them down instead of the other way around. I tried to imagnie what went wrong. Did I ask them to repeat the question too many times? Is it because I didn't know what to put in the writing center if we were learning about trains? Is it because I didn't cry?

I told myself to buck up and move on. After all, if Mitt Romney could spend 30 million dollars of his own money and still be rejected by the American people, the lousy 10 dollars I spent on a food handler's permit was nothing. Rejection is okay. Yesterday I was thankful that the experience was over and that I can put this whole thing behind me and move on to the next full-time job quest.

So imagine my surprise when just 20 minutes ago they called me up and offered me a position! It wasn't the one I applied for, in fact it was just a part time job that I refused because I already love the part time job that I have. But they told me to apply again for a full time position when they have more available. They hired someone else who had her degree in education and had plenty of experience. But they still want to hire me. Eventually.

Thankfully, I guess I still don't have much experience in rejection. Unless I count the daily dinner routine: "Were having this for dinner? I hate it!" Or that one time in college when I tried to talk to a girl to be nice and she said "I didn't ask you to join my conversation, did I?" Or the time in Junior High when I was walking down the hall and someone made fun of my blue USA jacket that I got at Anderson Lumber. That really hurt.

Oh well. It happens to all of us. I guess I'm still human. And can't wait for the next big challenge.

Kids: They Grow Up Too Fast

It seems like just yesterday I brought my cute little babies home from the hospital, one by one. They were so frail, yet so loved.

And then, in the blink of an eye, they are 100. My how time flies. Everyone told me they grow up too fast. I now believe. They are so frail, and still so very loved.

Who am I kidding? Can you all tell it's 100 day at school? The kids were supposed to dress like they were 100 years old, and they will learn that you're never too old to learn. So we pulled out the walking sticks, spray painted their hair white, and called them 100. They went off to school walking very slowly.

They are anything but frail, but still SO VERY LOVED!

I'm a Believer

I've really enjoyed this last week hearing all the good that President Hinckley has done for the world. I'll admit that I cried (me, cry?) when I heard that he had died. But my first thought was how happy he must be being with his wife again. Then I cried more (big surprise).

Anyway, our fast and testimony meeting was filled with testimonies of Pres. Hinckley's divine calling. Most started out their testimony with the time that they saw him in person and how they knew that he was the prophet. It was a great meeting. It made me wonder, though: I've never seen President Hinckley in person! The man was everywhere, and I never saw him in real life. I've seen him on TV numerous times, read his books and articles, heard him on the radio. I've felt like I've known him personally, even. I'm convinced he knew me personally, anyway (that whole talk about "lower your voice a few decibals" was directly to me).

Having never seen him, though, I know he was a prophet of God. I sustained him, loved him, prayed for him, and did my best to follow him. There is no doubt in my mind that he was a true and living prophet of God.

Our new prophet, President Monson, I have met in person. My mom and I sat a few rows in front of him a few years back at a theater in Salt Lake. The play was The Music Man, and during intermission we stood to walk out and passed by him. There were, of course, throngs of people around him, which made the aisle very crowded. But when my mom and I walked passed, he looked directly at us. Met our eyes, even. It was a great experience.

I have to say, however, that even if I had never met President Monson before, I would still believe that he is our true and living prophet of God right now. I love that our Heavenly Father provides us with current direction and communication, and loves and cares about us enough to give us a prophet in these latter days. I'll sustain him, love him, pray for him, and do my best to follow him.