Janae Says...

(emphasis added) To whom it may concern: I received a parking ticket in the Museum of Art Visitors’ lot at 4 PM on September 28, 2010. The comment on this ticket says, “lied to booth officer in order to park.” Under any circumstance, this comment is accusatory and inappropriate. However, in this case it is also completely false. I graduated from BYU in April 2010. I have since moved to Murray and do not take classes on campus. From August 2005 to April 2010, I have registered my car for parking in the Y-lots every fall and have never violated parking standards or received a citation; I am familiar with and have always respected the parking procedures. As a graduate visiting campus today, in Fall 2010, I had assumed that I was no longer registered to park in the Y lots. I pulled into the Museum of Art Visitors’ lot to make a brief visit to the records office to get a transcript. When the booth officer asked if my car was registered to park in the Y lots, I confidently and honestl...

I'm not sure where to start with this post. I guess I'll see how it turns out and fix it if I need to. If I haven't made it clear by now, I wouldn't be who I am without the gospel of Jesus Christ. I wouldn't know my purpose on earth. I wouldn't know my worth. I wouldn't understand my own personal suffering. And I wouldn't have anyone to endure it with me and for me the way I know Christ does. Every time we have to sing "Families Can Be Together Forever" at church, I can't do it. I can maybe get through 8 words before I start bawling my eyes out. If I haven't made it clear by now, my family is not perfect. It actually has some serious issues on an individual basis. And it needs serious mending as a whole. In spite of this, I want to be with my family forever. It breaks my heart when they are hurting and don't know where to turn. It hurts me to my very core to know the happiness they could have, if they'd open their hearts...

On my blog to the right, there's a still frame from Little Miss Sunshine with a quote underneath it: "Alright, everyone, just... pretend to be normal." This movie spoke to me four years ago when I watched it, and it continues to speak to me. Here's some of the wisdom I glean from this movie... Moms are emotional and crazy sometimes, but man, do they love their family! Parents can go about things entirely the wrong way, but they almost always have the best intentions. A family that can get through a hardship together and then laugh about it is a family that's got what it needs: a sense of humor. Adolescents can be inexplicably selfish and hurtful sometimes. They only mean half of what they say. Adolescents can hurt you the worst, love you the most, and protect you the best. Grandpas might seem obnoxious and crazy, but they have wisdom to share. It should be heard. Family members are sometimes uncomfortable expressing love and concern. When they try ...

This morning I started my new scripture study plan which is essentially nothing formal, but I am guiding scripture study along with Preach My Gospel. I read Lehi's dream in 1 Nephi 8. I really felt a connection with Lehi in wanting to share his joy (his fruit) with his family. And I understood his sadness and disappointment when his sons would not partake. Oh, how I would love if my loved ones would know and partake of the joy that I know... If everyone could understand how much their Savior loves them, and how he already suffered for them, and how it makes your burdens so much lighter to feel his support. If everyone could know that, everyone would be so much happier. So I thought I started my day off the right way. Then I got every red light on the way to school! It was bad. I tried to breathe off my frustration and make it a good day. And it was a good day. My kids were awesome. I also got free dinner before conferences--Joe Morley's BBQ. Pulled chicken sandwich, pork ...

So, I want a lot of feedback on this... Is it possible for only ONE person to feel a connection? For only ONE person to feel chemistry? I kind of figured connection and chemistry was a two-way street. But can someone be right for you, and you be wrong for them? A valid question, I think. (Rest assured, I'm referring to Chris Pine with this question. Not anyone who may or may not have been in a band or who may or may not have totally ignored me since two months ago or who may or may not be completely dominating my dreams lately. Not him.) NEXT!  I finished the Book of Mormon this morning. I started last August. Needless to say, it took me a long time, and I did a lot of slacking. But I think the last chapter is the best one, not because it's last. Because of its substance and how real Moroni's voice is in that chapter. ASK if this is true. Pray. He will answer. Simple as that. Easy as 1 2 3. NEXT! I have my A classes tomorrow... This means I have the stud...

Holy three days of blogs in a row, Batman! Today, as I was grabbing a small sacrament cup from the tray in Rachel's hand, I tried to readjust the cup and failed. The cup of precious sacrament water spilled all over me. I was momentarily embarrassed, letting out an "Oh my gosh," and an "awesome," at some point... I managed to get two or three drops from the cup and passed it on. The rest was on my turquoise dress. But really, I totally was upset at myself. I thought of the precious sacrament, and how I had let that blessed water go everywhere but where it was supposed to go. I was so happy to be taking the sacrament, and I spilled it everywhere! I was thinking of its symbolism, what that water represents--the blood of Christ, and how it absolves me and makes my sins of garnet white as snow. And about how grateful I am for that ordinance every week, and how much of a difference it made to me when my clumsy mistake prevented me from taking full advantage o...

Remember how yesterday I couldn't find my BYU Alumni shirt or my concealer that I had been looking for for several days? After getting a lot of rest last night, my mind was much clearer this morning. For some reason, my alumni shirt was in the drawer with my thermals and my exercise clothes. WTF? And I had a sudden epiphany that my concealer fell out of my lap in the car a week and a half ago, and I said, "Meh, I'll just get it later." Went to the car, and there it was in front of my seat. Rejoice.

It all started when my radio alarm clock went off at 6 AM (I have a radio alarm because that beeping sound makes my blood pressure double and causes anxiety attacks.). The wake-up song? Something by Nickelback. No joke, this immediately pissed me off. I quickly shut it off and got up, muttering at My 99.5 for waking me up with that horrifically iconic growling voice of adult alternative rock. After taking a long shower with my first time using John Frieda's Brilliant Brunette shampoo, I got out to finish getting ready. Today's Friday, so naturally I wanted to wear jeans and a shirt that'd make me stand out among junior high kids. What better shirt to wear in red U-territory than my BYU blue alumni shirt? I have this thing lately where I can't find anything. It's kind of weird because I usually remember where I put things and try to stay pretty organized, even if I get cluttery. I searched all of my drawers twice. I searched my t-shirt drawer four times, not jok...

First, one of the hazards of teaching... Wet-erase pens dying and bleeding gorily all over your hands like so. It even caused a blood clot on an overhead I was using. I couldn't even get it washed off completely. Maybe later. In addition to this hazard, there's always the hazard of failure, paper cuts, dry erase marker residue, and too many papers. Today I re-learned a great law of teaching. I should have remembered this from being a student. Since I was always the kid who got stuff done early--my thought process was like this, "The more I do today, the less I have to do tomorrow!" After a horrible failure in period 1A with group reading, I thought I might not try it again. My other A class is a beast. But I thought I'd offer them a chance, with a different approach. The Law of Motivation Part 1: Offer a choice. This way they can't complain, because they have opted and voted for what it is they're doing. For example: You can read the chapters...

I'm on a kick today: a The Used kick... I love them so much. Someone else I know really liked them too. Today, I particularly loved the lyrics, "I don't see anything now, so just say what you wanna say. It's kind of funny how I'm not listening anyway." Remember that time when no matter how many people reminded me how stupid I am, I wasn't listening anyway? All I've got is my heart instructing me otherwise. I can't see anything now. So just say what you wanna say. It's kind of funny how I'm not listening anyway. Sigh. Bedtime.

There are probably a thousand things I could talk about since it's been 20 days since my last post. I had a dream last night that I was at the beach on a date with this boy. He was like really small. I wanted a hot chocolate (I guess it was a cold day at the beach), and we held hands to walk over there. Who did we see other than my ex and his posse? Don't worry, I pretended that he wasn't there. Stirred up all sorts of madness around me. Let's also discuss how I just now received an IM from a 44-year old divorced father of four children who just had to tell me how gorgeous he thinks I am. I mean I know my dad recognizes a beautiful young woman when he sees her, and it's gross and all, but like... Can this just stop? I'm tired of old men. Really. I'm also tired of unattractive ones. I feel like I'm being super shallow and stuff, but I can usually tell if I'm going to find someone attractive or not. Little things bother me a LOT, even physically. L...