Pipeline Masters

The Paradox called Life

I was super discouraged last night as I wrestled with my thoughts on this paradox. So what is the whole goal in life? How do I figure out what is most important and what is best? I can't just toy with God's hand in the world, but all of my desires seem to be aiming at just that. Why is that? I have desires to feed the hungry, rest the weary, reduce food waste, shelter the homeless, and so many things that seem like they will ruin God's hand...but then I realized that it is not God who is causing all these problems, but it is humans and their agency and their lack of cohesion with one another that has created all these problems. That means that there is going to be very little that is going to keep me from trying my best to change these dilemmas the best that I know how...but I will do it one soul at a time. I don't work well with lots of people at once, so I will work with one at a time.
But I still have a dilemma...how do I know that this is the best way to spend my time? Because it makes me feel good and makes those I affect feel good? I guess that is right. I hope that is right.
Now with my final dilemma...how do I know what I can do that is where my soul will be most useful...I do not have an answer to this yet. Still searching....

I thought this was an interesting video...my teacher Mr Burnett in my World Religions class showed this to me...made me think about some different things and it is funny

Getting Older

I decided getting older is a great privilege because I am allowed to act exactly how I want and no one can tell me to do otherwise. My friends sometimes infer that I act like a little kid, but guess what? I am allowed and I probably will act like a kid for the rest of my life. I always believed kids had more fun and I have realized that I will always be a kid in every way. I love it.

Vans Triple Crown

God loves you & so do I

This is a great video. Strengthening. He has a great attitude about life and I appreciate this video a lot. Life is simple. Everybody love everybody.

Christmas!!!

I just love Christmastime! It gives me so much joy!
This is just a short list of what has made my spirit bright!
1. The Christmas lights on the front of the school
2. The Christmas trees all around campus with lights
3. The Christmas trees in the aloha center
4. The dimmed lights
5. The 1st Presidency Christmas Devotional
6. The Christmas music all around everywhere!
7. The Christmas tree in my house!
8. The Christmas music devotional @ BYUH
9. FHE - Brother Miner played the piano for us! He is incredible.
10. My work Christmas party where we played minute to win it games and ate good food!

I just love Christmas so much!

More pictures of Christmas time to come!:)

I learned -

I have really pushed my limits the last few years and figured out things about life that are mostly inexplicable, but I will try my best:

I learned that I needed to learn how to say no. I am still working on this one, but every time I struggle to say no, I realize that it is something that I usually should be saying no to. I am not talking about things that are necessarily bad, but I am just saying that if I do not say no immediately and I mostly want to say yes, but I have a moment of hesitation…that is when I know I must say no. I still struggle to make that correct decision sometimes.

I learned that anger is useless...anger only makes you realize later that it really wasn't a big deal. I also learned that you should say how you feel. This sounds paradoxical, but the truth is if you do not appreciate what is happening and in fact think it is wrong, then you had better speak up or nothing will ever change.

I learned that I like older people. The opportunity to learn from adults who have experienced much more than myself is one opportunity that I try to soak up every time I can. I learned that I have an automatic respect for adults; simply because they have made it to adulthood. That is a feat (esp. in this world) if you ask me!

I learned that happiness is a decision and it is the one you should choose every morning when you wake up. Happiness is contagious. I just love to be happy and I realized that when I wake up that way, my day is 100 times better.

I learned that I love to travel and that that love is unique to anyone else’s love for travel. Travelling is an art to me. It makes me feel invigorated and vulnerable. It gives me energy and I even love thinking about travelling.

I learned that it is okay to feel totally humiliated for beginning to fall in love with someone who did not love you back the same. I also learned that it is better to have immersed yourself in love than held back for a single second.

I learned from you that spontaneity and being flexible is an amazing attribute. I do not know what it is about getting older, but I feel like I have become worse about these two things. I try my hardest to be flexible and enjoy being spontaneous because monotony is just not who I am!

I learned that I lack integrity. I learned that I do not always do what I say I will do. One of my new year’s resolutions is to have more integrity in my life especially in the area of commitments and the environment. The trouble is life is not black and white. I wish it were.

I learned that I can be vulnerable and independent at the same time.

I learned how much the elements bring me joy. I honestly could not be happier than when I am in the water, near a fire, or enjoying the night breeze while watching the stars. The only thing that could make me happier is doing all the above in the presence of my family and friends. I love the elements.

and most of all, I have learned that I love learning. It is my very most favorite part about life. 

General Conference - Saturday Morning Session

One Year in Review

I wanted to review my last year with all of you. I stole this from my dear friend Sara Po'oi who did the same thing on her blog...so thank you Sara!

Sept - Dec
This time last year I was in Ukraine teaching English to more people than I can remember. I was teaching my host mom Lena, my 3-8yr old students, as well as my students at the University near Lisova on the outskirts of town. I was in a city of over 3 million and found myself adapting and enjoying life in a place I never knew I could enjoy. I am constantly reminded of the lessons I learned from that four month period of time.
I learned about patience, about true friends, about how unfair life is, about loss, and how death can come so suddenly. I learned about how to comfort those I could barely speak to with words. I learned how to serve; I learned how to let others serve me; and I learned that service is the greatest joy in my life.
I traveled all over Eastern Europe. I felt like the luckiest girl in the world on all my adventures. I was with the only person who I could ever picture myself travelling Eastern Europe with: Deidra Lou Hawker. One of my most dear friends...every time I look back, she is the fondest memory of my events there. Life was anything but normal in Ukraine...it was completely opposite of what I was used to. I loved it so much. If you are curious about anything of that time, just look at my older posts on this blog.

Jan - April
After I finally made it home to Washington three days late on December 24th, I spent a lot of time with myself and my family...and all too soon I was off to school again. That is when life really became unreal. I went from being with children all day to being with peers. I was lost. I felt alone and unsure of why I was there. Luckily that changed within weeks. I found that school was to be my focus and I loved learning. I learned so much academically Winter 2011. Psychotherapy and Abnormal psychology changed my view on so many things.

April - June
In April during Spring term I decided to do something-I decided to be homeless. I was all too curious about life without a permanent home. I also kind of missed travelling and figured this was one way to feel unconstrained. Homelessness had its perks. People were helping me constantly and I almost always had a couch to sleep on. It was also very draining; I always had to leave early in the morning and I was in school, so I was balancing that with finding myself a place to sleep (easier said than done). I learned how to become very resourceful during this time.
After this adventure, I finished this term by going to Kauai...which was a four day hike and definitely the most amazing and beautiful place I have ever seen in my entire life. I was so in awe and felt that during that time, I could live without people and was satisfied completely isolated in nature. A fabulous end to my term.

June - August
I headed home after this trip and felt a little bored, but I soon got over my boredom. It was nice to be home...it was nice to have a home. The most memories I will take from this summer is the time I spent with my nieces and nephews and my mother. I only wanted to spend time with the kids and had the most fun when I was with them. We had many memories this summer that I will never forget. They are some of my best friends and I currently miss them dearly.

Now
Now I am enjoying school and Hawaii and spending time with the wonderful friends I have here. Life is not easy, but it is oh so enjoyable. I am blessed beyond belief and this year testifies of that truth.

Ronnie's Passing

If you click on the photo, then it will be more full size.