On my sidebar you will find a poll...I would like as many opinions as possible as to what you peeps think I should do with my life...
I have two choices:
ONE: Stay in Utah. Get a good job here. Move out eventually. Get a dog. You know, the usual.
TWO: Go to Maryland to be a nanny.
I know what I want to do...What are your thoughts?
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Inspiration
So, as things have been rough lately I have had a lot of time to think...and think...and think...and think. I especially had TONS of time to think during my drive back up from CA. It was a good long drive alone. And I was very grateful for the opportunity.
I spent the night in Cedar City with a very good friend of mine, Ya Ya, so I wouldn't have to do the drive in one day by myself. She worked with me at Oakcrest and we've been close ever since.
***Side note, I still remember the night we found out we were going to be roommates like it was yesterday...we cried like babies we were so happy!***
It was SO good to stay with her and her cute little family and to catch up! I really wish she lived closer! I honestly did not want to leave. Not only did I have a friend and someone who cared about me but its amazing the love you feel when you are around a family that is truly close to the Lord. I was especially grateful for the unconditional love that her little girl Kiley shared with me. What a doll!! I was heartbroken to leave. That little girl worked her way into my heart very fast! I am so grateful for the love they shared with me and how welcome I felt in their home!
Anyway, with all my thinking and, might I add, PRAYING...I didn't land on any special inspiration. I know...deep right? But I did come across something. I've been listening to the Tennis Shoes Among the Nephites books...TOTALLY some of my favorite books. While listening to the 4th book, The Feathered Serpent Part 1, one of the characters said something that hit me hard. In this book, Jim and his children find themselves in Book of Mormon times right before the crucifixion of Christ. At one point, Jim is talking privately to the prophet Nephi, the son of Nephi, and he's explaining to Nephi how tough things have been for him and his family lately.
Jim says to Nephi, talking about his first adventure among the Nephites as a teen "I think about those days a lot. They seemed so uncomplicated. My purpose was so clear." (**My mission**)
Nephi asks, "You don't believe your purpose is clear now?" (**My crazy life now**)
Jim responds, "It just seems more difficult."
The next line, given by Nephi, is what hit me the hardest. He says "I think if you contemplate those memories from your childhood, you'll realize they're happy because of what you accomplished, what you overcame. They were probably no less difficult. Push ahead, Jim. I'm sure you have many happy memories to come. Lasting happiness is the offspring of endurance."
Jim then says "Then I should be a very happy man one day soon."
Nephi then goes on "Never forget Jim, all of this," his eyes scanned earth and sky, "is but a moment. Then comes the glory. All we must do is endure to the end. Afterwards our sorrow will melt away so freely we'll wonder how we ever lost faith, even for an instant. It's all true Jim. Our Savior will make it true. It won't be long now."
We are happy when we accomplish things. When we overcome challenges.
Lasting happiness is the offspring of endurance.
And I don't have much longer to endure. As Nephi said, it won't be long now.
I spent the night in Cedar City with a very good friend of mine, Ya Ya, so I wouldn't have to do the drive in one day by myself. She worked with me at Oakcrest and we've been close ever since.
***Side note, I still remember the night we found out we were going to be roommates like it was yesterday...we cried like babies we were so happy!***
It was SO good to stay with her and her cute little family and to catch up! I really wish she lived closer! I honestly did not want to leave. Not only did I have a friend and someone who cared about me but its amazing the love you feel when you are around a family that is truly close to the Lord. I was especially grateful for the unconditional love that her little girl Kiley shared with me. What a doll!! I was heartbroken to leave. That little girl worked her way into my heart very fast! I am so grateful for the love they shared with me and how welcome I felt in their home!
Anyway, with all my thinking and, might I add, PRAYING...I didn't land on any special inspiration. I know...deep right? But I did come across something. I've been listening to the Tennis Shoes Among the Nephites books...TOTALLY some of my favorite books. While listening to the 4th book, The Feathered Serpent Part 1, one of the characters said something that hit me hard. In this book, Jim and his children find themselves in Book of Mormon times right before the crucifixion of Christ. At one point, Jim is talking privately to the prophet Nephi, the son of Nephi, and he's explaining to Nephi how tough things have been for him and his family lately.
Jim says to Nephi, talking about his first adventure among the Nephites as a teen "I think about those days a lot. They seemed so uncomplicated. My purpose was so clear." (**My mission**)
Nephi asks, "You don't believe your purpose is clear now?" (**My crazy life now**)
Jim responds, "It just seems more difficult."
The next line, given by Nephi, is what hit me the hardest. He says "I think if you contemplate those memories from your childhood, you'll realize they're happy because of what you accomplished, what you overcame. They were probably no less difficult. Push ahead, Jim. I'm sure you have many happy memories to come. Lasting happiness is the offspring of endurance."
Jim then says "Then I should be a very happy man one day soon."
Nephi then goes on "Never forget Jim, all of this," his eyes scanned earth and sky, "is but a moment. Then comes the glory. All we must do is endure to the end. Afterwards our sorrow will melt away so freely we'll wonder how we ever lost faith, even for an instant. It's all true Jim. Our Savior will make it true. It won't be long now."
We are happy when we accomplish things. When we overcome challenges.
Lasting happiness is the offspring of endurance.
And I don't have much longer to endure. As Nephi said, it won't be long now.
Friday, February 17, 2012
Live and Learn
Recently I was talking with Marie again and we were talking about my recent move to CA.
Well that move was a bust. With no job, no money, and no place to stay anymore I ran out of options andwas forced to decided to come back home. Good thing I have a home to come to!
She said something powerful to me though..."Sometimes God lets us make mistakes so we can learn to clean up our own messes."
Well, I'm cleaning up a mess. Not a huge one, fortunately, but a mess.
Hopefully in all the chaos that is my life I can find the path I need to take...
Well that move was a bust. With no job, no money, and no place to stay anymore I ran out of options and
She said something powerful to me though..."Sometimes God lets us make mistakes so we can learn to clean up our own messes."
Well, I'm cleaning up a mess. Not a huge one, fortunately, but a mess.
Hopefully in all the chaos that is my life I can find the path I need to take...
Friday, February 3, 2012
Being single in a church of families...
STATS
-Name: Erin Page
-Gender: Female
-Age: 25 yrs
-Height: 5' 4"
-Weight: 135 lbs
-Hair Color: Blonde
-Eye Color: Blue
-Race: Caucasian
-Religion: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
-Relationship Status: SINGLE
I have a friend, that we shall call Marie, that is 26 and single, and we talk. A lot. She is my saving grace. The one person that understands me more than anyone else does. Being single in a church full of families is hard. Very. I would give anything to be in the place that 99% of my friends are at. With a husband, children, a home. A family. But life has dealt me a different hand and while the majority of my friends have already called out "BINGO!" I am still waiting for my other half...
While recently talking, Marie shared with me some shocking statistics. As the church grows, more and more women are joining the church. Women are more sensitive to the spirit. Men sometimes just don't feel that. As this occurs there is a growing gender gap in the Church. There are 40 active, temple-going, SINGLE females to every ONE active, temple-going, single male in the Church. The odds aren't exactly in my favor. Also, from the ages of 18-22 there is an 80% of getting married. From the age of 23-32, those chances drop to a shockingly LOW 30%. And surprisingly, at the age of 33, the chances sky rocket almost to 75%.
1 to 40. 30%. Those are my odds.
Now, I don't sit around and wallow and "woe is me" my odds at every second of every day. But sometimes, they do get to me. I am happy. I am living in Sunny Southern California. I have great family and friends who love me and hope the best for me. But I can't help but recognize the decline in the rate of marriage for the men in our Church.
Marie and I were talking about it a couple weeks ago and we were talking about the difference between the talks at the Relief Society Broadcast and the talks at Priesthood Session.
At Relief Society Broadcast we get talks along the lines of this:
"Sisters, wherever you are, whatever your circumstances may be, you are not forgotten. No matter how dark your days may seem, no matter how insignificant you may feel, no matter how overshadowed you think you may be, your Heavenly Father has not forgotten you. In fact, He loves you with an infinite love.
Just think of it: You are known and remembered by the most majestic, powerful, and glorious Being in the universe! You are loved by the King of infinite space and everlasting time!
He who created and knows the stars knows you and your name—you are the daughters of His kingdom."
-President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Forget Me Not, October 2011
At Priesthood Session, the men get talks along the lines of this:
"Now, I have thought a lot lately about you young men who are of an age to marry but who have not yet felt to do so. I see lovely young ladies who desire to be married and to raise families, and yet their opportunities are limited because so many young men are postponing marriage.
This is not a new situation. Much has been said concerning this matter by past Presidents of the Church. I share with you just one or two examples of their counsel.
Said President Harold B. Lee, “We are not doing our duty as holders of the priesthood when we go beyond the marriageable age and withhold ourselves from an honorable marriage to these lovely women.”
-President Thomas S. Monson, Priesthood Power, 2011
I'm not saying that EVERY single male in the Church fits this stereotype. But I am saying that there is an obvious difference between the counsel give to us by our Church Leaders.
I pray that one day I am in the right place, at the right time, to find my 30%.
Until then I will press forward, planning trips around the world, what kind of dog I will have, and the kind of house I want to buy and be happy with being single. Remember, this is not a woe is me post, but the next time you approach a single young lady-friend in the Church remember, she is doing the best she can to be as happy as possible given her lot in life.
And when she gets "BINGO!", you better believe that she will be the first to bring it up.........
-Name: Erin Page
-Gender: Female
-Age: 25 yrs
-Height: 5' 4"
-Weight: 135 lbs
-Hair Color: Blonde
-Eye Color: Blue
-Race: Caucasian
-Religion: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
-Relationship Status: SINGLE
I have a friend, that we shall call Marie, that is 26 and single, and we talk. A lot. She is my saving grace. The one person that understands me more than anyone else does. Being single in a church full of families is hard. Very. I would give anything to be in the place that 99% of my friends are at. With a husband, children, a home. A family. But life has dealt me a different hand and while the majority of my friends have already called out "BINGO!" I am still waiting for my other half...
While recently talking, Marie shared with me some shocking statistics. As the church grows, more and more women are joining the church. Women are more sensitive to the spirit. Men sometimes just don't feel that. As this occurs there is a growing gender gap in the Church. There are 40 active, temple-going, SINGLE females to every ONE active, temple-going, single male in the Church. The odds aren't exactly in my favor. Also, from the ages of 18-22 there is an 80% of getting married. From the age of 23-32, those chances drop to a shockingly LOW 30%. And surprisingly, at the age of 33, the chances sky rocket almost to 75%.
1 to 40. 30%. Those are my odds.
Now, I don't sit around and wallow and "woe is me" my odds at every second of every day. But sometimes, they do get to me. I am happy. I am living in Sunny Southern California. I have great family and friends who love me and hope the best for me. But I can't help but recognize the decline in the rate of marriage for the men in our Church.
Marie and I were talking about it a couple weeks ago and we were talking about the difference between the talks at the Relief Society Broadcast and the talks at Priesthood Session.
At Relief Society Broadcast we get talks along the lines of this:
"Sisters, wherever you are, whatever your circumstances may be, you are not forgotten. No matter how dark your days may seem, no matter how insignificant you may feel, no matter how overshadowed you think you may be, your Heavenly Father has not forgotten you. In fact, He loves you with an infinite love.
Just think of it: You are known and remembered by the most majestic, powerful, and glorious Being in the universe! You are loved by the King of infinite space and everlasting time!
He who created and knows the stars knows you and your name—you are the daughters of His kingdom."
-President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Forget Me Not, October 2011
At Priesthood Session, the men get talks along the lines of this:
"Now, I have thought a lot lately about you young men who are of an age to marry but who have not yet felt to do so. I see lovely young ladies who desire to be married and to raise families, and yet their opportunities are limited because so many young men are postponing marriage.
This is not a new situation. Much has been said concerning this matter by past Presidents of the Church. I share with you just one or two examples of their counsel.
Said President Harold B. Lee, “We are not doing our duty as holders of the priesthood when we go beyond the marriageable age and withhold ourselves from an honorable marriage to these lovely women.”
-President Thomas S. Monson, Priesthood Power, 2011
I'm not saying that EVERY single male in the Church fits this stereotype. But I am saying that there is an obvious difference between the counsel give to us by our Church Leaders.
I pray that one day I am in the right place, at the right time, to find my 30%.
Until then I will press forward, planning trips around the world, what kind of dog I will have, and the kind of house I want to buy and be happy with being single. Remember, this is not a woe is me post, but the next time you approach a single young lady-friend in the Church remember, she is doing the best she can to be as happy as possible given her lot in life.
And when she gets "BINGO!", you better believe that she will be the first to bring it up.........
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