Urban Poly Princess

Zumba needs to happen every morning. It just makes my morning showers feel better. I have a bunch of chicken I've been defrosting for a week now. I need to stick it in the oven tonight no matter what.

1 Nephi 18
3 And I, Nephi, did go into the mount oft, and I did ^apray oft unto the Lord; wherefore the Lord ^bshowed unto me ^cgreat things.

I love that Nephi prays a lot and enjoys learning a bunch directly from the Lord.

7 And now, my father had begat two sons in the wilderness; the elder was called ^aJacob and the younger ^bJoseph.

Lehi may have fathered these kids, but Sariah was the one who went into "LABOR" - A man - Mormon is definitely compiling this.

16 Nevertheless, I did look unto my God, and I did ^apraise him all the day long; and I did not murmur against the Lord because of mine afflictions.

This murmuring or complaining is something I need to quit. I was so angry at the temple when my feet were killing me and I wanted to go home. That 10-hour shift made me so mad. I didn't murmur out loud but I was surely doing this inside my heart. The pain ceased immediately and I didn't suffer blisters. I was probably born during this time because I'm such a wimp. Walk the plains ALL day in substandard footwear PLUS pee AND crap in the bushes??? OH HELL NO!!! I will NEVER get why people enjoy camping and hiking. Helene would tell me about her hikes for her old job and I would tell her it just sounded like hell to me.

Tali Toluta'u is one of my facebook friends. He is 1/2 Tongan like me and super fine. I remember playing cards with him and his aunt when he was 10. His dad is an art professor at BYU-Hawaii. Somehow he was divorced. He has 3 beautiful boys. He loves country music AND the great outdoors. He always posts about wanting to attend a country music concert with someone. He once posted about his ideal girl: someone who loved to hike, camp, didn't care about make-up and loved being in jeans. When I read that I just thought, WOW, I am sooo NOT that girl. I love make up, stilettos AND dressing up. I haaate camping, hiking and the great outdoors ESPECIALLY if I have to work to get there. 

19 And Jacob and Joseph also, being young, having need of much nourishment, were grieved because of the afflictions of their mother; and also ^amy wife with her tears and prayers, and also my children, did not soften the hearts of my brethren that they would loose me.

Nephi casually mentions his wife and children. Uh huh if you are going to wander the wilderness that long it only makes sense that he had children there, especially if his parents had 2. What an interesting childhood his kids must have had.

Welcome to Conference - Thomas S. Monson
I urge you to be attentive and receptive to the messages which we will hear. That we may do so is my prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, the Lord, amen.

Nice message for me as I prepare to listen to conference this weekend.

I was too late and I missed taking the sacrament. I wore my white gogo boots I bought from that lady on Cache Valley Classifieds. They are beautiful AND comfortable. I had a lot of compliments for them today. We had our combined RS/EQ meeting right after sacrament meeting I found Justin and confirmed our timetable and warned him about my family thing. He's fine with it.

He didn't stay for our linger longer dinner or at least I didn't see him. Krista always sits with Rich so she can talk to him in Mandarin so that means I end up talking to him too. Rich just keeps getting better and better. Of course he does. When Lauresa and I visited Elizabeth Webster she talked about how she made her Senior English class read Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. I didn't like that book although I did like how fresh or different it was from anything else I've ever read. Rich said Atlas Shrugged is his favorite book.

I just keep finding out things about Rich that I looove. I'm not fond of Atlas Shrugged BUT I love that he read it AND Fountainhead. How the hell can someone be sooo perfect but NOT for me to the point I get told that at 3am AND can't sleep? I know that's why it happened. Rich's mother is white. Just like my friend only Rich looks more Asian. Heavenly Father knew he would check all the boxes for me. That is why I was told at 3am and couldn't sleep.  

Rich was telling us the last girl he went out with is a fantastic kisser. Krista asked him how he determined that. He said he saw stars BUT that he wasn't going to see her again because she has 2 kids. I told him yeah you have 4 but he said she doesn't have time to date him and he just wants to get to know her, NOT her children.

Elizabeth walked by where we were sitting in the Gym. Rich said she was tall. I told him she was awesome and he should ask her out. That's how we started talking about Atlas Shrugged. He told me to set him up with her for a date tomorrow so I did. He said he'd pick her up at 6:30. I don't think he really thought I'd do it BUT I did. He asked me what her name was when I told him he had a date tomorrow. He wanted me to do this so I don't know why he isn't happy.

He asked me why I wasn't in sacrament meeting and I told him I was late because I'm still not used to my schedule since I just started working in the temple. He asked me if I was an ordinance worker and I told him I was. He reminds me of my friend in that it feels like I know him very well. I love how confident he is. My friend doesn't have his confidence. I don't know what the difference is. Rich reminds me so much of myself. He is brilliant AND confident. He knows he's amazing too.

Maybe it's the shy thing. I don't think Rich was ever shy. My friend used to be extremely shy so I don't think he communicates well. He has the mechanics down fine, he just says the most inappropriate things sometimes. It's why I know he's not a player. Players are never not smooth. He is mean a lot when he never needs to be that way. I don't know where he gets that from. He is real BUT sometimes we might feel a certain way BUT we need to be able to ignore that because it may not warrant ACTUALLY it rarely warrants an emotional response. He also ALWAYS assumes the worst about me.

It's why I told him I love him. I knew that was risky, I'm NOT IN LOVE WITH HIM. BUT I do love him and appreciate him. I wanted him to know I would NEVER do anything to hurt him so he would quit tripping. I like that he helped me when my tire was flat. I like that he doesn't expect anything from me when he helps me. I love that he first wants to do what his heavenly father wants him to do. Spiritually he is EXACTLY what I want him to be. I want to fall in love with someone with that testimony. I wish that would hurry up and happen.

I missed watching the general RS meeting live BUT they tape it AND when I was a church service missionary for the Conference Center I NEVER saw it live although I ushered for it. There was just no time with assisting people. During conference we went to get lunch at the church office building then we were at our posts again as people left. They NEVER were ridiculous.

Today although I loved the variety of things I got to do today at the temple, she OR MY supervisor overworked me. Alright so I'm younger than most of the workers there BUT working OVER 10 hours WITHOUT a break is ridiculous. I was there longer than my trainer AND EVERYONE ELSE on my shift. She asked me to stay longer but she didn't ask me like it was an option. I know she worked just as long but it's alright if you are constantly moving. STANDING there smiling and pointing sounds easy but it sure wasn't today. It felt like torture. It is why I never told her it was alright as she kept thanking me for staying late. I was the last person to leave and I left when the engineer and the Keiskers were there making sure everyone was gone. Bro. Keisker asked me how I liked working 10 hours my second day. I just gave him a forced smile.

Once I got home I wasn't physically bothered anymore. DESPITE the physical torture I endured today, I can't believe I get to do this. I am still grateful beyond belief. NOWHERE can I exercise the priesthood and actually perform ordinances. People aren't perfect. Maybe I'd have one of the youngest-looking workers stay late too. I hope I wouldn't be this insensitive. I hope I never am. I wouldn't have told her no. I should've been able to be stronger and tell her how I was feeling. How else was she supposed to know?

1 Nephi 17

No Zumba in the morning AND I worked the veil twice plus 2 hours of initiatories. The second time I actually performed some ordinances. It was awesome and I looove actually doing stuff A LOT more than standing there smiling at a post. I didn't eat ANYTHING yet. I think I'm going to buy a pizza then eat it myself or at least half of it before I take a nap, get up and start cleaning my house that has clothes strewn all over the place. I wore a sweater they have hanging there for any of us to use. I got two compliments specifically for it. NOT MINE but I'll take it anyway. I did a session too. The time goes by A LOT faster when you are actually working. It would've been great IF I hadn't ended up doing a 10-hour shift. The General RS meeting means we worked the 11 am shift 2.

I was so ready to drop. She kept thanking me and I just wanted to scream at her. Does she know how hard it is to stand and smile at people when you've been on your feet the entire time? My first job was a freakin Polynesian dancer. I have worked retail in the past BUUUT that was a looong time ago.

Jared called me when I was at the temple. I just realized now. He better not change this. I'm going to be ticked. I need to listen to his message but I have to leave just to do that.

There was something on my left sleeve. I hope it's something that is coming out right now in the washer. I need to go to bed. The sisters needed me to take them with this less-active member Miguel. He treated us to dinner before to Indian Oven. Sis. Sonasi said he was married to a Samoan lady and he has a daughter who lives in Seattle. He is Mexican/Native American. He speaks Spanish but he doesn't feel comfortable in the Mexican ward. He said people are friendly there until they find out he's half native American.

Sister Sonasi wanted to go to Hu Hot. I can't go there. I can't handle eating food that is so similar to what I cook on a regular basis only my stuff tastes much better. I decided to make sushi for conference. The sisters said they saw Justin and that he's excited about going to conference. I warned Sister Shreve about the long day. She didn't have a problem with it. I hope Justin is alright with it too BUT whether they are or aren't, WE ARE STILL GOING TO MY FAMILY THING. I am going to see my cousin Jared and his family. It's been waaay too long.

I'm going to sleep right after I publish this!!!

Last night we visited Lori? and Elizabeth new sisters in our Relief Society. It was nice to visit with them. I was exhausted when I got home. I REALLY didn't want to work out this morning but I forced myself before putting gas in my car then going to USU for ULA's Fall workshop. The first speaker is the new Director of the Salt Lake City Public Library. They've been looking for him for over 2 years. He gave an incredible talk about how to remain relevant. I like what he said and he made me think.

1 Nephi 16

We are having the family get-together AFTER the second session. Sooo we are going to pack picnic food and eat at temple square while we wait for the next session we can either see in the Joseph Smith Building, the Tabernacle or the Church on temple square. Also a lot of people take blankets and just listen on temple square. They set up speakers. Mele would always do that with her kids. I'm thinking musubi, fruits and bottled water. This'll be good for Justin to see all the stuff on temple square between sessions.

It's going to be a looong day. Noe said we'll start at 5pm. Justin and Sis. Shreve are going to have a looong day with me.They can keep me awake on the long drive to Logan. If not for them I would just watch with my mother on TV then go to our family thing, go to her house and spend the night. I could leave early Monday morning like I've done so many times before. Noe is leaving to Texas for Matt's Texas open house. Noe is still in wedding mode for Matt and his new wife Cassie.She said she'll facebook everyone. They are going to BBQ while everyone else takes side dishes. I'll do fried rice and maybe musubis again. I need to make a lot. I can do that Saturday the day before.

The last time I took musubi I made 45. These were gone by the time I reached the food to make my plate. They are pretty popular. Noe's house is too small unless she does her deck and back yard. Anjeanette's house or even Liane's house are much better. Tilila has the space but I certainly don't want to drive to Lehi. I want George and the kids to come so I can see them too. Justin and Sis. Shreve will have culture shock BUT my family is AWESOME!!! I love them so much. I can't wait to see Jared and his kids. He has 6 now. When he was here at the U he only had Jake who is in high school now. It would be fabulous if Kazuko made her sushi or chicken katzu. While I can make that stuff it never tastes as good as hers. She was raised cooking that kind of food.

So this was spent FINALLY buying my dish-washing liquid, for .45!!! at Walgreens after they applied my coupon AND signing up for a Walgreen's shopper's card. NICE!!! I paid my electric bill in person then I bought a chicken ranch sandwich from Wendy's for .99 along with their .99 fries. After significant savings I just couldn't spend more on my lunch.

This is a cold, rainy soup day. Actually I could go for some of that super-hot Asian saimin right now. I have lots of regular saimin at home. I need some sesame oil too. Time to hit up the ONLY Asian store on Main Street in Logan. The North Walmart had furikake I bought once. That was a nice surprise. I still never made my sushi casserole. I need Shitake mushrooms. I can't even get them Sunday. Maybe I'll get my cousin to buy some for me next Saturday. I can pay her and take them with me Sunday.

My sister-in-law had several kids right after each other. I guess with 9 children there is no other way for that to happen. I did some research online and it is discouraged. It suggests a mother should recover for 18 months first. Multiple sites and people also recommend not to have sex for at least 6 weeks after giving birth. So the only way to get pregnant again that quickly would be within the following 1 1/2 months. Enough people defied those suggestions however for me to ignore all that. There is lots of advice about when you should have children and how far apart you should have them but so many people responded all over the place with their own stories and how they were just fine.

I just need to be wise, take care of myself AND most importantly pray and listen to both what my body tells me and especially what the spirit tells me.

The sisters got tickets to Sunday morning session instead of the afternoon which means getting up at a crazy hour. I need to find out what my cousin is doing especially since Jared's going to be there with part or ALL of his family. I'm sure Jared got conference tickets. Why travel ALL the way to Utah with your family and NOT go to conference in person. Actually Sunday morning session is my favorite.

Tomorrow ULA's Fall workshop is at USU's library. While I enjoy my day off these professional development opportunities tend to be on Fridays however it'll be nice to attend. I am registered for it and it includes lunch. I haven't been impressed by any USU food but I'm not expecting that. Lead the change is a Leadership workshop specifically for Librarians. I read about it while compiling my thesis. I never thought they'd come to SLC or Utah even. They will be here on the 29th next month. I will find out if I am selected for ALA's emerging leaders program by then. I want to attend ALL of these. There is another ULA workshop conference weekend in St. George. I have no desire to attend that.

Tonight Lauresa and I are visiting 2 new RS sisters. I am happy to do that but I'll be even happier to be done  tonight and do some cleaning before the ULA workshop tomorrow. I have to leave a little early to meet the guys delivering my couch then I'm just going to chill and be ready to spring up and get ready for the temple.

My trainer told me to do initiatories during the week but I really haven't had any time. My schedule is packed right now.

LOOOVE Thursdays!!!

Zumba is a total habit and I love it. I feel amazing!!! I just have to make sure I exert myself EVERY workout to make it count and for my body to change. Going through the motions is easy BUT unless you make a concerted effort nothing will happen. I know how imperative it is to add weight-training too. muscle burns more calories at rest. I need to make myself a fat-burning machine.

I look at all the people in my ward who regularly run. I know it's better than not working out at all BUT they don't have amazing bodies. If you are going to workout it needs to change your body. Maintaining is fine if you already have a fantastic body BUUUT the people who run all the time need to do something else. Several people in my ward are very committed to Crossfit. I don't think any of them looks good physically. If you are working out regularly you should look better every 12-weeks. Maybe it's their diet. I don't know.

I just know I am committed to working out now. I plan to do everything I already know AND make adjustments as needed. I haven't changed my diet which should be the most significant change. I am alright with that however. I am trying to temper this. I can get obsessive pretty fast with my health and fitness goals.

I want to get married asap. Actually I still don't feel a need to get married like I should. I do feel a need to get pregnant and start popping out kids. That's not happening unless I get married in the temple however so I need to speed that up somehow.

Justin is gorgeous. We would have extremely attractive children. My friend doesn't look Asian but his eyes disappear when he smiles. So do mine. With the little Chinese blood my brother has, most of his kids have pretty strong Asian eyes. I think my friend and I would have very Asian-looking kids too that look like my brother's kids. My sister-in-law is a 1/4 white and 3/4 Samoan. George is 1/4 white too. Sooo NOT important BUUUT I was thinking about it this morning.

I'd like to spend the first 3 years of my married life pregnant for 27 months out of 36 anyway. I'm not sure how healthy that is. I need to do some research. So that'll give me 3 months out of the year to get pregnant. I'm getting obsessive about this now. I need to chill. I know what I was told about my kids sooo I should just have faith and let it happen how it needs to. Some of my cousins have taken a long time to get pregnant with their first child.

1 Nephi 15
36 Wherefore, the wicked are rejected from the righteous, and also from that ^atree of life, whose fruit is most precious and most^bdesirable above all other fruits; yea, and it is the ^cgreatest of all the ^dgifts of God. And thus I spake unto my brethren. Amen.

Personal Peace: The Reward of Righteousness - Quentin L. Cook
Agency is essential to the plan of happiness. It allows for the love, sacrifice, personal growth, and experience necessary for our eternal progression. This agency also allows for all the pain and suffering we experience in mortality, even when caused by things we do not understand and the devastating evil choices of others. The very War in Heaven was waged over our moral agency and is essential to understanding the Savior’s earthly ministry.

Tonight class was MUUUCH better. We played Jeopardy and then we did Real Estate math. I didn't have time to go home because one of my favorite students came early to class and hung out with me. It was right before my lunch and I wanted pizza so I bought her stuff to share the pizza with me. I was in the middle of making an ID tonight at work so I didn't get a chance to leave early. The last half hour always kills me.

It's around 10:30 and I just got home. It is cold now, definitely jacket weather. I haaate this weather!!! Life is great. Busy but awesome. I love my life. I have so many opportunities.

Yesterday after Chili's w/Krista I was suddenly VERY tired. I was too tired to even get up and take my contacts out and make up off. Krista's sweet potato fries were still raw. They looked good but when you tasted them they were awful. I got the fajita 3-selection sizzling platter. It was alright. I also bought dessert which looked like their chocolate molten dessert but was a reeses peanut butter cup molten. It was NOOOT as good as a chocolate molten and I'm NEVER making  that mistake again.

A Sure Foundation - Bishop Dean M. Davies
In like manner, if we do not provide for an appropriate balance in our lives of daily personal prayer and feasting from the scriptures, weekly strengthening from partaking of the sacrament, and frequent participation in priesthood ordinances such as temple ordinances, we too are at risk of being weakened in our spiritual structural strength.

My friend Krista messaged me last night we should go out today since my birthday was last night. I told her that's fine and we should hit up Chili's since I have a gift card I need to use. Sooo today after work we are doing Chili's for dinner. When I was a collector one of the supervisors told me if I could collect 9 payments in the next hour he would treat me at Chili's. I did and he did. My friend Lome treated me there too. It's alright. Typical chain sportsbar-type restaurant. I'm only going there because it's free. I think I was also in the steak mood once and I didn't want to go to a steak restaurant. They had this steak/shrimp entre. I think I'm going to check out the menu now. I just know I looove their chocolate molten dessert.

I think it's a fajita night. Nothing looks really good. I took this big bag of Cheetos to work so I'm not really hungry for anything.

I went to bed at 1am. I was too wound up from my class. I love real estate and I love my class BUT at the end of the night AFTER I've been at work ALL day it is NOOOT the best thing in the world. I got up with my alarm at 5:40 but then I laid there before dragging myself off the bed and put my shoes on to workout. Instead of immediately doing that I sat there surfing for a bit before Zumba. I finished with 1/2 hour to spare. I DID NOT take a nice hot shower. I just put on clean clothes then stopped at Tesoro for a 42 ounce Diet Dr. Pepper, one of their tornados that tasted like sausage and maple syrup wrapped in a tortilla and a couple of their donuts. They told me they get them from Shaffer's bakery. I think they are the best. I don't like Macey's donuts. I did like Lee's bakery donuts the one time I tasted them BUT I still think Shaffer's bakery is the best.

It is getting colder now. Something I DON'T like. Actually the cold would be bearable if the white stuff stayed away. And now I get to drive in the snow to the temple every Saturday. NOOOT looking forward to that.

1 Nephi 13
37 And ^ablessed are they who shall seek to bring forth my ^bZion at that day, for they shall have the ^cgift and the ^dpower of the Holy Ghost; and if they ^eendure unto the end they shall be ^flifted up at the last day, and shall be saved in the everlasting ^gkingdom of the Lamb; and whoso shall ^hpublish peace, yea, tidings of great joy, how beautiful upon the mountains shall they be.
Those are people doing missionary work, they "publish peace".  Of course missionary work is beautiful. 

Followers of Christ - Dallin H. Oaks
Jesus taught that God created male and female and that a man should leave his parents and cleave to his wife (see Mark 10:6–8). Our commitment to this teaching is well known.

Jared and his family or part of his family will be here for conference which means Justin and Sister Shreve are just going to have to join me in visiting my family in West Jordan. I haven't seen Jared since he and Kazuko left I think in almost 10 years. I'm not going to miss a chance to see he and whoever comes with him. 

Irony, I wanted to freak out my family with my friend by having him lie to them about what he did. Justin will freak them out naturally. He is pretty enough that they'll assume I'm seeing him whatever I tell them. He's in construction and I don't think he's gone to school. He's a new convert too. BONUS!!! I don't need to prep him at all, they will just freak out. Hahaha!!! This is going to be great. I'm not missing my chance to see Jared and his family AND no one's lying BUT I know them AND it'll be fun to watch them trip! 

Sis. Shreve and Justin will just have to deal with it. Sister Shreve should be fine. All my first cousins except Hotaia served full time missions. It is rare not to serve in my family. I don't know about the next generation. The guys are alright BUT the girls are getting on my nerves. They are not stepping up. Historically women haven't been able to serve, there is time for everything else. Why are they choosing not to sign up for blessings and something so much fun AND rewarding. I wish I could shake them. A mission is only 18 months for women and now they can go even faster. I wish I was around my nieces more right now.