Deep Thoughts: Beauty and Rain

My favorite part of the Relief Society meeting on Saturday was hearing the story from President about the flower that was potted in a rusty old planter. 

He said that the woman who planted it thought something like knowing it was going to be such a beautiful flower, she thought it wouldn't mind having such a meager beginning as one in a rusted old pot. 

It was a message to me that although I still have lots of polishing left in me, one day I will be that beautiful flower.

It also reminded me of a talk I heard in the MTC a long time ago. 

Flowers need the rain just as much as they need the sun to grow.

I'm grateful for those times of rain.

But I'm very glad that I'm in the time of sun right now.

Because I feel like I'm growing.

Recipe: Chicken and Avocado Soup

Made this on Sunday. Thought I died and went to heaven. 

I wish that I lived in a place where avocados were much cheaper.

Best part? It's pretty healthy!

¡Buen provecho!

Chicken and Avocado Soup

Servings: 4 • Serving Size: 1 bowl • Calories: 264

• 5 cups chicken broth
• 2 cups shredded chicken breast
• 1 tomato, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1-1/2 cups scallions, chopped fine
• 2 ripe hass avocados, diced
• 1/2 cup cilantro, chopped fine
• 4 lime wedges
• 2 tsp olive oil
• salt + fresh pepper to taste
• pinch cumin
• pinch chipotle chile powder (optional)

In a large pot, heat oil over medium heat. Add 1 cup of scallions and garlic. Sauté about 2 minutes then add tomatoes and sauté another minute, until soft. Add chicken stock, cumin and chile powder and bring to a boil. Simmer, covered on low for about 15-20 minutes.

In four bowls, fill each with 1/2 cup chicken, 1/2 avocado, remainder of the scallions, and cilantro. Ladle 1 cup chicken broth over the chicken and serve with a lime wedge.

Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo

I only went to one formal dance in high school.

So last night, I got the chance to be Cinderella. Complete with a fairy godmother and a beautiful ball to go to.¹

Bibbidi

Bobbidi

Boo

No need for mice or lizards for this girl.

And my date was a prince and somewhat charming. It was my friend, Zak. It was nice to have someone who makes me feel comfortable at an event where I was very much out of my comfort zone.

And we may have decided to consider getting married before the night was over.²

The best part was the after party. Parking lot + car stereo=so much fun!

So, that was my weekend. How was yours?

¹So, the other RS president was not a fairy godmother, but she did do my hair and she did set up an appointment at the mall to get my makeup done. She had to put up with my anxiety of going to a formal event. And it also wasn't really a ball. It was the Governor's Gala--so dinner and show with dancers and musicians.
²Okay. So, not really. No one freak out. No one start asking me about wedding colors. If anything, you should ask him. He's very particular about his wedding plans.

I won't quit my day job, but...

There's no reason I couldn't become a photographer, right?

It's okay. I amazed myself that I could actually take a picture like this.

I give credit to my camera.

Sometimes, yes

My director stopped by my desk yesterday and we chatted for a bit.
He noticed my gnarly looking burn from the ATV seatbelt--my visible scar from four-wheeling on Labor Day.
He asked how I got it. 
I told him.
His response: "You have a pretty much awesome life." (direct quote)
I agree.

Except for the few days, when I think it's dramatic and depressing. But those seem to come around less right now. 

I hope it stays that way for awhile.

Rule Number 4

If you're taking me on a date

and we're just friends

(the fact of which has been established previous to you asking me)

I still don't want to hear about all the other girls in the ward that you're interested in and why.

I don't need to be reminded that I'm the back up because you couldn't find someone else.

Just sayin'.

News!

A couple of weeks ago I applied for a job in a different department at work.

Last Monday I had an interview.

Today, I got a call back for a second interview on Thursday. 

They narrowed their pool of potentials from 15 to 4. 

There are 3 open positions. 

He said the odds are in my favor.

This is incredible!

Awkward

6. hard to deal with; difficult; requiring skill, tact, or the like.

This week's story. Imagine:

Laurel is driving to her friend, Remi's house. She parks her car and heads up to his door. Halfway through the parking lot, she looks to her left and sees....
Her co-worker and his two daughters
She stops. They stare for what seems like eternity.
Laurel timidly raises her hand and waves cautiously while yelling, "Hey, R---." (Her voice may have cracked somewhere in between saying those two words.)
He waves back.
She bounds up to the door only to find that Remi is not there. She looks around to make sure Co-worker R has left the scene because it would be pathetic for him to see her sitting on a doorstep. Co-worker R is gone.
Laurel remains mortified.
The next three days at work are awkward as she attempts to avoid Co-worker R for fear that he'll bring up the incident. 
Finally, she gets up the courage to ask him if he lives in that complex she saw him at on Tuesday.
Co-worker R looks at her strangely. What does she mean?
She attempts to relive the moment. He continues to look at her confused. He then replies he didn't realize it was Laurel. He just was being polite. He then asks who Laurel was visiting.
"Just a friend. He lives there too."
Luckily, Co-worker R doesn't know him.
However, Laurel's world has become much smaller than previously thought. Overlaps are starting to occur. The nice compartments she has created for friends (Church friends, Work friends, BYU friends, high school friends, San Diego friends, Family friends) are starting to break down. The question is... where and when the next overlap will occur? 

Stay tuned.