Simple Note, Empowering Message

We all have those friends in our lives that are few and far between and what's more is how hard they seem to be to find. But a comforting thought is knowing that once we find them they are impossible to leave, lose, or forget. They are those friends who form life long bonds that never break, ultimately becoming the best type of friendship anyone could ever ask for or even dream of having, so naturally we hold on tightly afraid of ever losing them. A fear that pertains to any sort of loss that relates to this particular friendship.
I have the most amazing friend who, at what seems to be the most random times, reminds me of just how great they are. Not that this friend is going out of their way to remind me that they are in my life, rather they go out of their way to tell me the kind of friend I am to them. By doing this it reaffirms my belief in them and in how wonderfully amazing they are.
These acts are done through e-mails, or text messages, or through notes left for me. All of these are simple yet powerful. They don't have to say much for me to feel what's behind the message. I am able to feel that power every time I read them. That message of knowing I have an amazing friend. It never gets old and I'm grateful I have this friend who does this for me. No matter what form these messages come in, they always make me smile. :)
I'm sure it's not hard to figure out who I am talking about but to this person, to my friend, I say this:
Thank-you for being my friend! Thank-you for ALWAYS being there for me and putting up with me! Thank-you for the "notes" you leave me! Thank-you for the encouragement you give me! Thank-you for all you do for me! But most importantly, THANK-YOU FOR BEING YOU!!!! I really did get the better end of the deal! :)

Katie's Influence

I have been wondering for awhile just how much influence my friend Katie has over me. Well today I decided it was a lot! Over the past few weeks I've slowly been trying to do more in the kitchen, something I've NEVER given that much thought to. I started spending time at Anderson's and things started to change...slowly. Now I'm not saying I want to be a chef or anything but I'm not as against cooking as I once was. I still don't like it very much but Katie has been influencing me a little bit everyday over the past year and a half. I have learned interesting things by watching her cook and work in the kitchen. I have actually used some of the techniques I've seen done in her house. Oh and even though I've picked up a few things from her, I still burn myself ALL THE TIME!
This little reality hit me today while I was making brownies. I've been making brownies for a couple years now but I've never bothered to try anything different with them. Well when I opened up my mom's recipe book to the brownie page, my mom had a swirl brownie recipe below her regular brownies so I thought about trying it. A couple of months ago I wouldn't even have considered doing it but today was different. I was a little intrigued.
I happened to be talking to Katie via text message so I told her about it and she encouraged me to do it. I of course gave her a hard time saying she only wanted me to do it so she could have some when I was done!
When all was said and done I decided to give it a shot and I've gotta say they weren't bad at all! I took some over to Katie, because every now and then I am nice like that! :) My finished product!!! Oh and I didn't burn myself today either, but that is because my mom is the one who took them out of the oven! :)On my list of "Influences by Katie" this is definitely the most shocking one and it took me by surprise but it has been an interesting learning experience. Every influence that is on the list is a good one. They help me broaden my horizon's and look at things from a different angle. I have seen things (big and small) in me change for the better through Katie's influence. It is amazing to me just how many things are on this list and how often I am able to add another one. With that said I do want to clarify something...I don't actually have a list of "Influences by Katie." I might be weird but I wouldn't really write that down! :)
Katie, thank-you for influencing me in so many ways. You are an amazing friend. I'm glad you enjoyed the brownies! :)

Deverie Domesticated?

I know what you are thinking, Yeah right! There is no way that would happen. Or what poor soul would ever try changing Deverie's stubborn ways? That's an impossible feat! Well I'm here today to tell you I tried something new. Something I am still shocked about. I can't believe I helped do this! Believe it or not I helped make Strawberry Jam!
I said I needed new adventures in my life, well my friend Katie delivered.
I was invited over for dinner at Katie's house and when I got there I asked if there was anything I could do to help, (surprised I asked that? Me too!) so Katie told me I could cut strawberries. Wait? What? Katie told me to do something with a knife? All this time I thought she knew me better than that! I have no room to talk, if I knew myself I wouldn't have agreed to do it in the first place! Good thing strawberries are already red I guess! :) It wasn't bad and surprisingly I didn't even cut myself while doing it! Yay me! I either did a good job or I was doing so bad Katie didn't want to offend me by saying anything so she didn't! hmm? I'm not sure on that one!
I did that until dinner and then after dinner and FHE were over with I went back to cutting the rest of the strawberries for her. When they were all cut she got the stuff out to make jam. Not sure how it happened but next thing I know I am helping her make it. Something I have never done before, probably why she had me do the easiest stuff, that or she remembered I am no good in the kitchen so she was trying to keep it simple for me. One of those, I'm sure of it! :)
All I really did was stir things or wash jars, although on occasion I had to fill the jars. I was only a little messy, but Katie had a rag on hand! Even though I did good while cutting the strawberries and I was able to do it without any injuries, I don't have the luxury of being in the kitchen without hurting myself, I burned myself on a pan while working on the second batch. Smooth I know! No surprises that it happened either. Oh well. Its not like it was a bad burn anyway. It didn't even leave a mark.
Even after that I still stayed in the kitchen and helped finish the jam. Injury free the rest of the way! :) After the jam was all done we had some strawberries set aside to dip in chocolate. My job with that one was to stick the strawberries on toothpicks, she did all the dipping in chocolate. You thought I was messy, you should have seen Katie! Chocolate everywhere! haha! I gotta say though, those chocolate covered strawberries were good! I probably should have saved some for her family! Oops! ;)
All in all it was a good night and I had fun. It was a good experience for me. Not saying its a habit I am going to pick up or anything but at least now I can say I did it. Something new for me! I said I wanted it and I got it, so no complaints!
Oh no one mention to my mom that I helped Katie do this, she might get offended because I never help her or she might expect me to help her next time she makes jam! We can't have either of those things! ;)

Update-Sorry no pictures!

Where to begin? I've known for a while that I needed to update my blog, but I haven't had much to say. I could write about surgery and recovering from that, but that was awhile ago. I could write about how I spend my days, but I can't promise that that would be very exciting. I could write about my new running excursions, but I am out of shape so its not that impressive. I could write about the fact that I need new adventures in my life, but I only have a lead on one. Personally I think I have good reason to be stuck and not sure what to write about! :) Maybe I should just sum everything up in one blog post. I'll try and keep it short.
It took awhile after I first became sick to get my gallbladder out but I was able to go in for surgery on Jan 27. I went to the hospital in the morning and the surgery was about noon. Everything went well at the hospital and I was able to leave shortly after 5 p.m. After a few rough days things started looking up for me and I recovered well. I owe a few people a lot for taking care of me while I was like that, I am very grateful for all the help I received. I think I must have gotten sick of everyone else in my family getting all the attention so I decided it was my turn! haha! Not something I ever want to go through again. I'll stick with everyone else getting all the attention from now on. Besides, I'm not one who likes to be the center of attention, unlike some people I know, Logan! :)
Lately I've been spending my days trying to find a job. I look mostly on the internet, a downside to not having car, but every now and then I will take my dad to work so I have a vehicle to look for more or to go apply for some of them in person. I haven't had much luck so I am still working on it. Told you that part wouldn't be that exciting!
Running: something I used to do for basketball in high school. I'm not in high school anymore nor do I play competitive basketball so why would I consider this? A couple of weeks ago some ladies in my ward wanted to start getting together and go running well my friend Katie was one of them who decided to join this group of ladies, so she asked me to join them, so I did. Its not bad. Some days it is a little harder than others but somehow I do it. I'm not consistent in what I run but I think all but the first time I have done at least a mile. I'm getting there, some days I do two. It all depends on the day I guess. So far most of the days we have gone it seems like it has been in the rain. The joys of Idaho weather huh? Personally I prefer to do it while its cooler like it has been. I seem to do better on those days. So as out of shape as I am its been good for me. Its a good release too, which never hurts to have. I somehow got suckered into doing a 5K this summer so I think I'll stick with it for awhile. Thanks Katie. :)
As for the new adventures that I need, I don't know what to say. Running started a few weeks ago so does it qualify as new? I do have a friend who has been trying to get me to go to institute for a few weeks, I think I'll give it a try this week. Its something I've never done before so why not? No harm in trying. It'll be good for me anyway! That right now is my only lead. I need to expand my horizons just a little bit I think. I guess that in its self is an adventure!

Ask and Ye Shall Receive, if Ye Are Willing to Accept

It is amazing to me the different trials we are all put through in this life. Even more amazing still is no matter what the trial is, the Lord is always there for us, ready to help us when we ask for it. The question is: are we willing to accept His help when we do ask for it? We may ask Him for help countless times and we may even plead for it, but if we aren't willing to accept the help given, how do we expect to get better?
He offers us help in many different ways. Whether it be through a family member, a friend, a neighbor, a blessing, a prayer, or even through a talk we might hear or read. It is one of those things where we need to keep not only our mind but our heart open so we can not only acknowledge the help but so that we may accept it when it is offered.
He is consistent in being there for us and there are times where He is there waiting for us with His arms wide open ready to catch us. We are taught on a regular basis that He is there for us, we are taught all the things He does for us, everything He is willing to do and has already done for us, yet we are quick to forget Him. We are quick to let pride get in our way. We are quick to forget Him not only when things in our lives are rough but also when we are happy with the way our lives are going. While we are quick to forget Him, we are also quick to question why we have certain trials in our lives.
I know I am this way too. I am taught on a regular basis yet I forget. This is something I am aware of doing yet somehow I still struggle with it. I have seen the benefits of turning to the Savior when I need help but I am still slow to do so. Why? This isn't something I can answer. However this is something that I can strive to change. Something I can put more effort into. Not only is this something that I can do but it is something that I need to do. Something I want to do. Wanting to do it makes the world of difference. It doesn't feel like an obligation this way which helps make the process easier.
I am going to challenge myself to do better. A challenge that I believe will be hard but worth it in the end. A challenge where the results could benefit more than me. A challenge I really don't want to fail. A challenge I look forward to doing.

Hmm?!

One of life's greatest questions.... how does a 5lb box of chocolate cause you to gain 10lbs?