Janae Says...

Well, I got sustained and set apart for my calling today as the Enrichment Committee Leader. I am extremely excited. I was so grateful for the blessing my bishop gave me to set me apart. One of the most poignant parts was where he blessed me with the ability to listen to the suggestions of others, to communicate my thoughts and concerns, and also to be able to connect with and love those whom I am serving. I have been thinking a lot lately about... well... myself. haha. I've been thinking about my tendencies regarding people and relationships. In general, I find that I have very little tolerance and patience for people, when I deal with them on a mass kind of basis. But one thing I do know is that once I have spent time with people, spoken with them, learned about them, and joked with them, is that I come to love them more than I ever thought I could. I need to get rid of the former part, where my initial disliking for people takes over, and let the better part of me take over--the...

I'm sure if you know me in person, or if you read my blog regularly, you know that progress is my goal in life. I love checklists and I love writing things down that I have done so that I feel like I've gotten somewhere. This is so excessive that Rachel bought me a Listography book for my birthday, to list everything that ever existed in my brain. Today on my blog I am listing my progress at the gym. For many of you, weight loss is the goal. For me, health and fitness is the goal. My weight is difficult to change. It has stayed the same since high school, which I am grateful for. I'd rather not be a weight fluctuater. I am a firm believer that if someone takes care of him/herself, exercises, eats well and not in excess, they can be healthy and fit no matter how big or small or muscular or thin they are. That is true attractiveness. So I go to the gym four or five days a week, doing either 30 minutes or 60 minutes of cardio per day. I've had to step this up recently, inc...

I just now decided that sexual innuendos in old music are much better than in modern music. Exhibit A: "The Joker" by the Steve Miller Band (which I have so thoughtfully added to my playlist on the right, for your convenience). He sings: "You're the cutest thing That I ever did see I really love your peaches Want to shake your tree." haha. It makes me laugh. Better than raunchy modern music though. I am wearing a dress today to celebrate the sunshine. It is supposed to be in the 80s most of the week (90 tomorrow), including Saturday. So I am excited to get my tan on, finally! Nothing new... Work, gym, institute (Tues), read, watch movies, watch TV, sleep, repeat. Life's good though! :)

My baby cousin Tyce... Diving right into my finger.

In an effort to recognize the hand of the Lord in my life, I'm going to write this blog. Things were a bit rough the last week or two, especially Saturday, where I seemed to have reached my limit. I bombed my Spanish Praxis (which I studied for for over a month), had a traumatic dream, and went to get Red Mango after work, where they told me that their Original flavor machine was broken. Fantastic. I made an effort to really set things right on Sunday and was immediately blessed for my efforts, so I need to share them. These might seem like insignificant little things, but they matter to me, and they've made my day great, so I should share. I received a calling I am very excited about. More on this later. But I really am excited and so humbled! I did really well on my written dance final today. I already know the future. It says, "A." I also got to leave as soon as I was finished which means I got out of dance early. I started a bowling game off with a spare and two s...

OK, so really, I think I've made a genuine and consistent effort to remain positive on my blog and in life in general. But I need to complain for a moment... Starting menstruation before the prescribed time is incredibly frustrating. A week early? I mean, really. That's twice in three weeks, you know. I'm not sure a body can take so much loss. And it's rather tortuous. Grrr. Go away. Hysterectomy, please!

2 Nephi 4:31 O Lord, wilt thou redeem my soul? Wilt thou deliver me out of the hands of mine enemies? Wilt thou make me that I may shake at the appearance of sin? What amazing and simple things to ask for. I've asked for that last one, and have received that kind of help. He is amazing.

I've been watching a lot of movies lately, as usual. I rented five movies last week and watched four of them. I'll watch the fifth today (Milk). I watched Be Kind, Rewind; Frost/Nixon; He's Just Not That Into You; and Personal Effects. I also watched Breakfast at Tiffany's--thanks Brianne! And I watched French Kiss and Life as a House. Wow, that is a lot of movies in a week. And yet I feel like I stay pretty busy outside of that. Gene Simmons Family Jewels season premiere was last night, which makes me happy. I was having withdrawals. Geez, like I need another show. I consistently and regularly watch So You Think You Can Dance, Jon & Kate Plus 8, and Dog the Bounty Hunter. When Little People, Big World is in season, I watch that, too. Before SYTYCD, I watch American Idol consistently. And in commercial breaks from my regular shows, I watch What Not to Wear, and Intervention. The TV watching is getting a bit out of control. I should be planning units and lessons, and...

I don't know how many blog readers I have, and I wouldn't want to flatter myself by over estimating. But for the few who do read it, please consider clicking this link!: http://www.one.org/us/waterfortheworld/index.html?rc=wftwtaf It's a petition to ask your senators to cosponsor the Water for the World Act of 2009 (S.624), which will help bring first-time, sustainable access to clean water and sanitation to a hundred million of the world's poorest people. This is something I've always felt very strongly about. Bringing clean water to people would solve so, so many problems! Please click here and add your voice!

1. Listen to the first song on my playlist. I heard it the other day at the bowling alley and somehow remembered that it was from the movie Once which I had not yet seen. I have since watched this movie and fallen in love with its music. This song is amazing , simply put. Listen, love, comment. Stat. 2. People at the airport baggage claim: Stand ten feet back. Yes, TEN FEET. You heard me right. This way, everyone can get a fair view of the conveyor belt, see their bag, and walk up to get it when it's their turn. When you are just dying to stand by the belt, expecting that your bag will come first, there's no doubt that someone who's waiting patiently behind you and the other 14 anxious people will have to shove his or her way through because their bag came out before yours. Imagine that. So back the freak off, and walk up to get your bag when you see it. Sensible? Not to the masses... Consider, agree, comment. Stat.

2 Nephi 1:7 Wherefore, this land is consecrated unto him whom he shall bring. And if it so be that they shall serve him according to the commandments which he hath given, it shall be a land of liberty unto them; wherefore, they shall never be brought down into captivity; if so, it shall be because of iniquity; for if iniquity shall abound cursed shall be the land for their sakes, but unto the righteous it shall be blessed forever. (emphasis added)

I reviewed my results from a personality test today which I took quite a while ago (sometime last year). If you want to read the whole thing, it's here . This part is so accurate it's funny: As an ISFJ, your primary mode of living is focused internally, where you takes things in via your five senses in a literal, concrete fashion. Your secondary mode is external, where you deal with things according to how you feel about them, or how they fit into your personal value system. So is this: ISFJs have a rich inner world that is not usually obvious to observers. They constantly take in information about people and situations that is personally important to them, and store it away. This tremendous store of information is usually startlingly accurate, because the ISFJ has an exceptional memory about things that are important to their value systems. It would not be uncommon for the ISFJ to remember a particular facial expression or conversation in precise detail years after the event o...