1/11/11

Years ago a friend of mine designated the eleventh day of January as the 'AJ Day O' Wishes Come True' since my favorite number is 111 (for many reasons, but mostly since it was/is my hero dad's employee number). I fully intend on officially declaring this holiday when I have some more means or money =].

This holiday as I look around me I have to say that many of my life-long wishes have come true.

1. I wanted to be a scientist since I was a little girl. I graduated with a Bachelor's of Science in Biology and even added an emphasis in international development.

2. Since I was young, I've always wanted to serve a mission for my Savior. I've caused Him enough pain, it is the least I could do, and I ended up serving in the Brazil Salvador South Mission (it even has his name in it) from January 2007-July 2008.

3. Unlike most little girls, I never had the riveting dream to be married. While my husband was courting me (yes I said court, he tried and still tries hard), I would tell him all the time that I was fine with being one of God's angels (aka still being single when I died) and that is why he wrote the song "She's an Angel". Though I had no expectations for what my wedding dress should look like, what should happen at the parties, etc., (and I'm sorry to anyone who suffered because of that) marrying this amazing man has been one of my biggest wishes that I didn't know I had come true and he is still so sweet with me I get overwhelmed with him a lot.

There is another wish coming true, but I don't want to give it a number until it does. It involves a child. I have my wishes for the following years set high and want to work for an organization such as Save the Children or a similar NGO that helps the future of the world- children. Though this may not happen in the next two years, it will definitely remain in my focal point until the 1/11 that I can write about that wish coming true. I am on my way to hopefully making a difference in one child's life (not to mention I LOVE my nursery children), he's just not exactly here yet. Little One mommy already loves you :)

Baby Boy!

Yes, we are so happy to have another guy in the family. Now I will really be outnumbered with our fish Dagon, husband, and baby. That is okay with me. I would rather have a house full of boys (follow in my mother-in-law's footsteps) than deal with silly girl hormones and drama. I never really was into that stuff and mostly hung out with guys growing up. I do have some great girl friends that are a lot like me though ;). We are pretty sure on the first name, but middle name we aren't decided. I have a beautiful, coincidental story that goes along with our deciding on a name, but every time I tell it, I get so excited that it comes out fast like a train wreck. I will take some time to write it out and post a picture of the baby chillaxin' in the womb when I get more time.
I supposedly have a bachelors in biology and minor in international development. Funny story. One of my last classes (evolutionary biology lab) says NS (no score) on my progress report. Turns out the T.A. was four hours late turning in everyone's grades. So, I am graduated...or am I technically? Who knows when that will change. When everyone gets settled back from their academic break? Psh.
My bro just got called as zone leader in a new area. He is such a spiritual guy and I miss my little big bro like crazy! This really is an exciting time in my life to be done with my undergraduate studies and starting a new journey as a mother. I am planning on pursuing graduate studies in international health, but want to go somewhere liberal and will see where the hubster gets accepted to law school in the next couple years. Pictures to come =]

Spectacle

I actually didn't go buy the new jeans. MJ had to pick them out for me the next day. Instead, I read all about creationism and evolution and if I had to put myself in a category (which I hate doing) right now I would probably say I am a theological evolutionist. I'll have to blog about all my findings another day I have time. I'm so excited to spend some time with some friends from high school tomorrow, ah yeah!

What's new?

Just a list of the new things in my life:

New semester (and last one ever before I get my bachelors in biology and minor in international development)
New haircut (only 1 person has even noticed and said something, so not a big change)
New sign language class (this is going to rock!)
New i-phones (not sure if I shoulda bought this one for the hubby)
New job (it's also old- I have been a bioethics T.A. before)
New nieces coming in the next 2 months (my sister-in-law and sister are both pregnant with girls)
and now I am headed to buy some new jeans since pretty much my whole collection is from high school!

Now and Later

Now is pretty tough. I know people say enjoy the now now because you will want it back later, but I am really not finding the now enjoyable. Maybe if I make a list of things I am enjoying now, it'll help me have a better perspective. I find joy in playing with the nursery kids for 2 hours every Sunday, when hubby is home and I am not alone (it's not that I am bored without him- I have plenty to do- it is just that I am doing it alone), being in the middle of a great scientific controversy at work right now and helping to find the right answers to questions even if it's not the miraculous outcome everyone was praying for including me, reading the great books I am in the middle of right now, baby-sitting for my neighbor, hiking, being outdoors doing anything really (except playing frisbee with a big-a paper cut like yesterday), getting to know new places, visiting with friends and family, taking pictures, bonko night every month, and a whole lot more. Ok, I think I can start to enjoy this day off more now instead of wanting things that will probably be better for me in my life later.

Sweet Stuff from the Great Book I am Reading Right Now

"Be Kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a great battle"- Philo of Alexandria.

The Hebrew word for soul is nephesh.

The physicist/theologian John Polkinghorne "believes in a God who created something more beautiful than a ready-made world- a world with an inborn capacity to become and create itself". This one is totally awesome. Think about it.

"The more personal you are willing to be and the more intimate you are willing to be about the details of your own life, the more universal you are."- Sherwin Nuland (surgeon and author)

Nuland: "There isn't a reason in the world that the religious have to explain their faith on a scientific basis. What is needed between science and religion is not a debate, but a conversation, each one saying, "You know, you're here to stay and I'm here to stay, so let's find out how our relationship can be of greatest benefit to this world."

Nuland again: "And given the opportunity to make choices, they will always choose the more salubrious way...Every cliche has a reason".

Clinic Cliche

So, it's almost been a week since I have been working in the medical clinic doing research. I love that I can do research, read of fascinating finds in disease, and still interact with people. My time has gone by fast and I am working hard. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome has been quite the dramatic disease. Right now, if you enter into the CF world, log into the CFS chat rooms, or try to find the most recent published articles it brings you to a medical mess. Scientists are trying to find the cause, patients are trying to receive the care, and their medical doctors trying to know best what can be done for them. We are doing specific studies on the XMRV virus (which gives me hope, personally because it seems that many symptoms seem to go hand-in-hand with a viral disease), migraines for teenagers, and a bio blood bank to be used for further research later. It feels awesome to be a part of break-through discoveries!