Opportunities to Help!

Ok. There are two organizations that need your help ASAP. A friend of mine is plays a major role in a charity called Camp Kesem (see previous posts). She is also the Volunteer Director for Provo, Utah's chapter of Hospice. After wishing her a happy birthday today, I learned that both of these organizations are in immediate need of help.

First and more urgently is Camp Kessem. As a brief review, Camp Kessem is a camp where children of all ages affected by cancer (whether it is themselves or someone close to them) can go for a week to forget about the intense trials of cancer and just have fun with kids in a similar situation. The camp is completely donation funded and usually occurs in the middle of August, which is just around the corner. The problem is, this year they are short $15,000, and the camp is only a couple months away. So, tell your friends and your friends' friends...and your moms' friends' friends! Anything will help. (I'll post the directions of how to donate as soon as I receive them from my friend).

And now for a more long term commitment: volunteering for Hospice. Hospice is a program that strives to provide the absolute best quality of life for those who have been diagnosed with 6 months or less to live. It is an opportunity to befriend someone that may be friendless and alone in the world, facing their last weeks and months here on earth. It is an incredible experience from which people of all ages can benefit.
Follow the link below to learn how to volunteer    http://www.hospice4utah.com/volunteer/volunteer-application.html
     

Mon Pere

How dare I let Father's day come and go without bearing my soul about the dads in my life! I have been unbelievably privileged to have always had my dad in my life, which I'm well aware is not something everyone gets to experience. More than that, I also feel so lucky to have lived my 23 years being able to spend time with my grandfathers; which is even more rare. I have so many incredible memories running through my mind right now as I right this! How all growing up my dad was a business guy, and would usually get home right as my little sister and I were on our way to bed. To be sure that he spent time with us, he would come up to say goodnight, and play guitar at the foot of our beds in his business suit every night. This is just one of the ways that my dad has been a loving parent. He has also been a running buddy, a mentor, a protector, a provider, a cheerleader (figuratively...) and a patriarch. I think too often today parents are hesitant to reprimand their teenagers and parent their kids regardless of age. For me, I'm glad my dad never stopped parenting me. That he always and continues to offer advice in a loving way. Today, and pretty much everyday, I am thankful for the loving service rendered by my father in his decision to be my parent. If you haven't had a positive fatherly or familial experiences, decide to break the chain. Decide what type of parent  you want to be and then be it. No, it won't be easy, parenting won't be easy regardless, but it'll always be worth it.        

A Dog for the Dame

Here's the thing; I'm a dog person. Like all the way. No offense to all the cat-lovers out there, truthfully I'm glad you love cats (so that I don't have to), and don't be upset, I'm just biased. Since I was two I've always had a dog or two, or even three at times. I just love the way that they become a companion! Living in a neighborhood, our dogs were always inside dogs who loved being with us at all times. With a dog, you truly develop a relationship to the point where they act as if its the best day of their lives every single time you come home from work and the saddest every morning you leave. One time a friend of ours said something like, "You want to see who loves you more, your dog or your wife? Lock them both in the back of a car (or closet) for a few hours and see who's happy to see you when unlock the door". HAHA! I love this little anecdote! *Not that you should EVER try it* but because of how true it is! As a wife, if my husband accidentally shut the cellar door on me and totally forgot I was in there for an hour or so, I'd be fuming, FUMING I tell you. Do the same to a dog? When you open the door there will be nothing but gratitude and love coming from the dog. I have sincerely missed not having a dog since being in college. Although I have wanted one, I've held out knowing I hadn't the time sufficient enough to devote to the dog. That is (in part) why I can't wait until August! I'll finally be graduating from college and only working part-time which means?! Yes, me and Mr. Barnes will have a new canine addition to our family :). As always, I'd like to connect this post to a good local cause. In light of the message I have chosen the H.A.R.T foundation. They take in homeless animals. They are looking for volunteers and are in great need of donations.

Please take a look!! Their blog link is below :)
http://hartofutah.blogspot.com/   

Sleep, shlmeep...I would really love a jeep...wrangler preferably

You better believe that I'm about to start this blog post out with a disclaimer--I'm only going off of 2 hrs of sleep. Thus I have immunity against anything I may say or do :) haha which is exactly why I am posting it on the internet, right?! Needless to say I am eager for my spring term classes to come to an end in ONE WEEK! Now, I know what you're thinking, you think I'm about to go off and rant about a professor that is too strict or too hard or too boring, and I'm sorry but you are wrong. Au contraire as the French say.  I have actually loved my classes and gained a great deal of respect for the professors I have been able to learn from these last 6 weeks. The only problem has been large amount of work in a short period of time. Like yikes. But! This is a blog about being positive so I'm not even allowed to complain. The positives=I've finished all my assignments for today and after 17 hrs of homework leading up to my 5 hrs of class (that's right, no sleep), I am d.o.n.e. and on my way home to see my hubby...and then crash. That is all.

This is a GOOD one

I think one of the biggest lessons I've been learning these last few months, is just how amazing it is that we (people) are all on this earth right now, together. Think bout it: instead of being on this earth, we could have been put or "evolved" to live on a planet that was 10x's this size; causing us all to be much more spread out and much less interactive.I know this is all hypothetical but bear with me...and indulge this thought! Think of one time someone else has been a "saving grace" for you. Whether a coworker noticed you were having a hard time and picked up your slack at work, or a professor gave you an extension on a paper you simply hadn't finished, or a stranger smiled and it brought you up out of a foul mood because you realized things weren't so bad. We've all experienced this! If right now you're reading this and you says to yourself "I've never had anyone help me or make my day", then chances are you are being selfish and I don't believe you. Stop throwing a pity party and start recognizing the positive things in your life. This epiphany (so to speak) really hit me the other week as I was on the phone with someone close to me. He had been going through a really hard time in his life where a lot of things were looking bleak, but someone had come into his life. An angel even, and had been that "saving grace" for him. For whatever reason, she was able to cheer him up, and help give him hope that had been lost. Just a few days ago, I was slammed with school work. Being so close to graduating I piled on the credits for a summer term to proverbially "sprint to the finish line". The problem was that within one week I had many major projects due and tests to take and  there was just no way I was going to get everything done. I begrudgingly and fearfully (for what it might do to my grade) emailed my professor to ask for an extension on a couple of my assignments. Without the slightest hint of a reprimand or  condescending tone, he, very understandingly, granted me the extension. That day, he truly was my saving grace! The best part of all of this is that if we take time in our day to just get outside of ourselves and outside of our minds, we can be saving graces or tender mercies in others' lives. How awesome is that?! Can you guess why the title of this blog is "Of One Heart"? It's because we are. I've always had a personal mantra of, "Once you stop living for yourself, life gets SO MUCH BETTER". As we serve one another and gain that general appreciation and love for people around us, life gets so much better, and much much more full.  

My Man

So today I just want to take a post to brag about the amazing man in my life :)  There's no way I can attempt to publish a "Service-Oriented " blog and not mention my incredible husband and all that he does for me! I'm not sure how, but I managed to marry literally the best man in this world. This may sound bad, but I honestly feel sheepish/awkward when both single and married friends alike come to me to confide in how the man in their lives let them down some way and I have nothing but positive things to say about Caleb. For example, how the other night how he randomly came home with flowers for me (it may be cliche but i LOVE it and it will NEVER get old!!). Even just yesterday, as our house was practially in shambles looking as though a grenade had gone off, he sent me to the library without discussion. He knew I was overwhlemed with homework and that the condition of the house was greatly adding to my stress. So, despite the fact that he had just come home from work (he works 6 days a week), he selflessly sought out my best interests and without thought for himself, sent me on my way. I am grateful for a man that loves me enough to know me so well, that he can intuitively know my needs and then take the step to ensure that they are fulfilled. Here's to an eternity with my hunk!

       

Sweet Summertime!

Today I have a LOT of things to be grateful for, that make my life so positive. First on the list is the fact that it is SUMMER! What does this mean? It means no more having to layer ridiculous amounts of clothing just to stay (semi) warm. It means the sun is now out in full blast and I can stop being so pail. AND! It means summer vacations :) This last weekend we were able to travel with my husband's wonderful family to a weekend house they had reserved for the whole family in Las Vegas. Being LDS, Las Vegas does not hold quite the same novelty for me primarily because I do not drink alcohol (ever) and am not a big "partier." However, I do love new things, and I had never been to Vegas before!! The house was beautiful and comfortably fit all 15 adults and 6 grandkids equipped with a pool table and a pool. The weekend was spent laughing at the adorable grandkids doing who knows what, late talks till 3 am and mini day trips like taking a tour of the Hoover Dam. I have always been extremely close to my family and was nervous how I would take to my future in-laws, and how they would take to me! Needless to say, they are incredible people. I loved every minute of this weekend!          

Camp Kesem

Cancer. It's a term that strikes fear and hits close to home for almost everyone. With cancer rates soaring, it is common that each individual has a personal connection to this disease. For me, my connection is my mom. When I was 15 my mom was first diagnosed with breast cancer. She was 42 at the time, and because only the right breast was filled with the cancer she was diagnosed at a stage 1. We were incredibly blessed and that the cancer was not too far advanced she underwent a double mastectomy with reconstructive surgery and after recovery she was cancer free! Or so we thought. Years later in the summer of 2011, 7 years later to be exact, we received some devastating news; my mom's cancer was back, and was worse than ever. She was immediately diagnosed to a stage 4 (the last stage of cancer) because the cancer had metastasized. Her entire spine was shown to be completely saturated with the cancer to the point that her vertebrae were literally deteriorating. The doctors believed that she would only live two more years at the most. Immediately she underwent an intensive program of chemotherapy and radiation therapy in attempts to delay the spread of the cancer as much as possible. During this time, I was humbled with the incredible amount of service that our friends and neighbors devoted to our family. It was unlike anything I had ever seen. The amount of selflessness that loved ones and even simply acquaintances exhibited on a daily basis was truly overwhelming. Although my mom's cancer still persists, we have been immensely blessed with success in her therapies. The cancer is not in remission, but the therapies significantly impeded the growth of the cancer providing us with more time with my mom. With this crazy life experience, I was introduced to a world of new service opportunities. One of these  wonderful programs is named "Camp Kesem". As seen in the video below, it is a place where children who have been affected by cancer (whether they themselves have it or their parents) can go, free of charge, to forget about cancer and just focus on being a kid.                   

There are multiple chapters of Camp Kesem throughout the nation and it is very easy to get involved!! You can be selected to be an actual camp counselor and spend an amazing week helping to buoy up these incredible kids or help in various other ways such as fundraising. Find the Camp Kesem near you and get involved!!       

It's the Little Things

Okay, right now in front of my vast audience of followers ;) I solemnly commit to posting in my blog more frequently!! There are so many little things that make my life wonderful that I feel guilty and ungrateful for not sharing them. For example, a couple of weeks ago I was just stressed out. I didn't want to do anything, and no one could make me! Or so was my attitude. In protest of making dinner, or completing any other task for that matter, I plopped on the floor in between the living room and kitchen and laid there. Instead of complaining that he was hungry, or that I was lazy, my sweet husband simply plopped down right next to me. The next 45 minutes were spent in laughter, playing the best game of "I Spy" I've ever played. What a wonderful attitude?! My husband would've had every justifiable right to straighten me out and bring me back to real, adult, life. However, instead, he was selfless and turned it into a loving and positive memory that I  cherish. Example #2; my husband and I were finally getting home from work and school and had gone grocery shopping. I don't know about you, but I'm a "one trip" kind of girl. Meaning, I HATE having to make multiple trips to and from the car for groceries. I know, its weird. This particular night we had made a particularly large shopping trip and it didn't look like we'd be able to carry it all to the house in one go. Then suddenly, a couple of our friends called out to us! They just happened to be walking by, recognized us, and offered to help us carry the remainder of the groceries in. Again these are very small and simplistic scenarios, but are situations that at the very least made me smile! It's amazing how much happiness you can provide by doing simple acts of service. SO instead of spotlighting a particular charity with this post, I'd like to encourage the habit of creating daily service opportunities.             

Service

Service just feels good. Anyone that has ever done ANYTHING with selfless intentions can attest to this. Why do people donate to charities or volunteer time at a soup kitchen when oftentimes (except for an occasional tax write off) there's no tangible return for your work? Because it evokes the "warm fuzzies". That loving feeling that rings into the depths of your soul reminding you that you are capable of so much potential. It's the thought and call to action requiring you to get out of your own head and realize that there is a much bigger picture and so much more to live for. When defining service, different fields have differing opinions. According to Wikipedia service from an economic standpoint is defined as, "In economics, a service is an intangible commodity. That is, services are an example of intangible economic goods" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Service_(economics)#Service_definition). How interesting?! I would have never thought of the benefits of service as "intangible goods" and yet I love this because it specifically describes that their are "goods" that come of it; you just can't physically hold them or see them. I don't believe it is an accident that humans are wired to have that desire to serve and it certainly is not a coincidence that we are all on this earth simultaneously trying to get through life. We are here together and we are supposed to help each other. Being a Christian (I'm a Mormon in fact) I whole-heartedly believe the scriptures when it states that we are to "mourn with those who mourn and comfort those who stand in need of comfort" (Mosiah 18:9). I also sincerely believe that 98% of people truly desire to get involved in serving their community but they might just not know how to get started if its not Christmas time! Without the ringing bells of the Salvation Army's Santa Clauses in front of grocery stores, people may not know where to donate that money or how to volunteer at a soup kitchen. So! I want this blog to attempt to solve that problem, at least for my current community. I want this to be a reference point if someone is wanting and willing to serve! The saddest thing would be for someone not to dedicate time because they had too hard of a time finding a proper institution to volunteer with or simply didn't have the time to do the research. Thus, each day I will attempt to portray a personal story highlighting something positive in my life  as well as spotlighting a local charity and how to get involved.  

The Commencement

I'll admit this blog has been a long time coming and it was only thanks to a requirement for a class that I am finally beginning to "blog". Initially, in browsing blogs attempting to pinpoint just what I wanted to use my blog to rant about I totally began stressing out about all the unbelievably cute blogs that far surpass anything that I could ever conjure! Generally speaking, the people I have known to start blogs have done so after getting married. They establish a blog as a cute, funny and personable way to stay in touch with family or simply tell their story. I, however, find it hard to do so! I would say that by nature I am more of a private person and call it old fashioned or even anxiety, but I don't want to broadcast our lives to everyone and their dog! In short I a  am a very normal "super senior" simply attempting to finally finish my undergraduate from BYU, taking 11 credits in a spring term in addition to an internship, and try to be a pleasant enough person for my (amazing) husband to come home to. I'm not particularly craftsy although I enjoy the occasional project of refurbishing a dresser or attempting to crackle a frame using Elmer's glue to save some money. Nor am I particularly funny (especially when in writing), which I discovered, is often what makes a good blog; wit and a good sense of humor. I mean, don't get me wrong I think I'm hilarious;) but so often I feel that it is the expectation that you have to pump your postings full of wit and style just to get a couple of followers.  That's a lot of pressure people! So after thinking about what I could devote this blog to, recognizing my powerful right to freedom of speech, I  decided to make this blog about something that this world needs a little more of; positivity and service.