Destressing the Stressed

This week was my mother-in-law's birthday and my sister-in-law was super busy preparing.  Laura, my sister-in-law was preparing the meal when the oven broke!  She had to go to her friends house to finish baking part of the meal and was very stressed.  She asked somebody to help do decorations and clean up the house a bit.  Nobody did it!  I realized that nobody else in the family was going to help her out so when she was gone I finished decorating and cleaning up the kitchen area.  When she got home she didn't ask who had cleaned or decorated but I could tell it relieved a little more stress for her.  When dinner time came I helped her set the table and poor the drinks.  I think it really helped her and I was happy to do it! 

Conference time!!!

Today was the Saturday afternoon session of conference and I got to go watch it live!  My friend Katie had extra tickets and I couldn't refuse them because it was for the same session that my missionaries were to sing in the General Conference choir!  I teach ESL missionaries at the Missionary Training Center in Provo and my district was invited to sing for general conference.  What a special treat it was to go and watch them sing!  Also, when I got home I saw a bunch of posts on facebook about how David Archuletta was singing in the choir too.  I didn't even realize it.  Cool.  I bet the missionaries in my district got to meet him then.

My favorite talk during the afternoon session was definitely Elder Holland's.  He is always a powerful speaker and what he says always moves me.  I think it is his passion about the topics he delivers that really makes a difference.  Today he talked about quite a few subjects all in one talk; forgiveness, envy, and not getting hung up on the past were a few things I got out of it.  It was a great experience.

KONY 2012

The new video from the makers of Invisible Children has come out this year and is making headlines.  The interesting thing is that a lot of headlines have been negative!  I first saw the Invisible Children video in 2005 at a showing on BYU campus.  I was very moved and donated money and bought T-shirts and the video to help spread the word.  The grass roots movement has made a big impact and a lot of publicity has helped more people become aware of what is going on in Africa and children soldiers- not as much publicity as the KONY 2012 video is going to get.

The KONY 2012 video has already had over 50 million views on YouTube and growing.  The main point of the video is to gain publicity and help the world become aware of Joseph Kony.  Joseph Kony is the evil man that is behind the group in Africa that kidnaps children and forces them to kill their parents and then for their army in general.  Watching the Invisible Children and Kony 2012 video makes it near impossible to not feel something and be motivated to spread the word.  I was shocked to hear that the group behind the videos is being criticized for not using 100% of donations for the actual cause.  There are even people on facebook making statements like "What's the big deal?  There's stuff like this happening in other places in the world too."  I can't believe how insensitive people are to be against such a great movement.  Just the awareness the videos are bringing is changing the actions of people and the government!  I support the cause!!!

Looking for work!

This week gave us a rude awakening of what it feels like to be out of work and have bills to pay.  Raul quit his job this week and I will be unable to work at the Missionary Training Center as of graduation next month.  We have been looking at all the usual places (craigslist, KSL, etc.) but haven't had any luck with getting an interview.  The job market is tough right now!

We are also looking for a new place to live because our landlord has to sell his place.  This leaves us with a month to find somewhere we can live and afford to pay the rent.  We will try to split rent by living with a friend or something.  If that doesn't work out, we will probably need to live with Raul's mom for a while until we find stable jobs.  We will keep praying and hope for the best!

A new start

This week, Raul and I have been making some steps toward a new life.  The first step was to buy our first bed together!  We got a queen size bed at Macy's closeout sale for only $300.  We had special hook-ups as well because Raul works at Macy's and gets extra discounts and "Macy's money." 

Another step we took was to look for our first place to live (other than with a professor).  We are searching on Craigslist for now, but we have a realtor friend who might be able to help us out if we don't find something soon.  We hope to move in to a new place right after I graduate in April.  In order to fund this, we are also looking for new jobs that will pay better. 

A New Addiction

This week, I found a new show to watch during every free moment I have a home.  If I'm not a work or school, I'm watching Arrested Development.  I had heard about it from friends, but it wasn't until we started doing the free 30-day trial on Netflix that I had unlimited access.  The show has been pretty funny so far.  We just finished the first season.  Sometimes they cross the line a bit for me, but overall, I enjoy the show.

I guess they are gonna make for more episodes exclusively for Netflix that transition into the movie they are producing right now.  I still need to get caught up on the second and third season.  That way, I will be ready for the movie when it comes out.  I hope I can do it during the 30-day trial!

Buying a "Coke" for a Stranger

This week, I was assigned to "buy a Coke for a stranger."  Basically, I had to do a random act of kindness for a stranger.  I forgot all about the assignment until today and then freaked out because it is Sunday, and I couldn't buy anything for someone anymore.  I brainstormed with my husband for a bit and then suddenly had a brilliant idea.  I asked him "how much money do you have in your wallet right now?"  He said he had three dollars.  I told him to give it to me and I went for a walk with it, looking for a stranger to surprise.

I walked about 30 seconds before I spotted a teenage boy running my way.  He was dressed in his Sunday best and looked like he was in a hurry to get home after church.  I called out to him "hey," and he stopped running and hesitated before walking closer to me.  When he approached he looked really confused and nervous.  I said "hey can I give you three dollars?"  He said "Alright, thanks."  I told him to have a nice day as I walked away.  It was an incredibly awkward exchange.  I was so embarrassed that I walked around the neighborhood a bit before returning home, as to avoid letting him see where I came from.  I laughed to myself when I imagined what he would tell his family at home.  He probably told them some weird girl gave him three dollars on his way home from church: random.

Wedding Day Pictures

Well, today I got back my wedding day pictures and had some mixed emotions.  I love the Salt Lake Temple in the background and I love my family and friends in the pictures.  The thing that I don't like, is me!  I wish I would have done my hair the way I originally wanted to, I wish I would have worn the dress I originally wanted to, and I generally wish I would have followed my own intuition instead of listening to every one's opinions.  I don't look horrible in the pictures.  They are really nice.  It's just that I'm not representing the genuine me in the pictures. 

I originally wanted to wear a two-piece suit (with a pencil skirt) that was really old fashioned and classy.  I had a vision of me wearing a white cap with a net that would go over my face.  I had already bought the suit and everything, but when I showed it to some friends they all said that I would regret not wearing a "real" wedding dress.  After enough friends said that, I gave in and borrowed my friend's mom's wedding dress.  It was really beautiful, but not me.  I also wanted to wear my hair braided to the side with cascading curls in a side pony tail.  I was ready to do my hair that way the morning of the wedding, but my mom stopped me and persuaded me to just wear it up.  I did, and it wasn't me. 

In the end, the wedding was wonderful and the most important things were performed.  As far as the pictures and other little details, I would tell every bride-to-be that they should follow their own vision and not listen to the opinion's of others.  It really is your day, you only get one. Those people who give you their opinions either already had their day or will eventually have their own.  The things I was happiest with at my wedding were the things that I didn't budge on and stayed true to my vision, even with all the nay-sayers!

Raul's "Surprise" Birthday Party

This week I decided to throw Raul a surprise birthday party at his mom's house.  I got together with his mom and older sister to plan out the food and decorations.  Laura, his older sister, has two little boys (Lucas and Sasa).  Lucas is the oldest at four-years-old and Sasa is three.  When I brought the balloons over the boys got really excited and wanted to play with them.  I had to explain to Lucas that the balloons were for Raul's birthday and that it was a secret until the next day.  I made him promise to keep it a secret and not say anything to Raul when he came over that night.  When Raul and I came over for dinner later that evening, Lucas met us at the door and said, "Uncle Raul, uncle Raul!  Rachel bought you balloons!"  We all looked at each other, but decided to just move on with out acknowledging it.  Today, when we went over for the party, Raul wasn't super surprised.  He really like the decorations and everything though.  Next time, I won't make a big deal about keeping a secret with the little kids.  It just made them more excited to tell the secret!  

Genealogy

This week I started getting more work done for my family history class.  I decided to take a family history class this semester because my dad has always been into it and I'd like to start working with him.  Now that I am married, I also need to do more work connecting the family trees and researching more.  The program I am using for the class is "Roots Magic".  It is nice because it interfaces with Family Search, the Church's family history and genealogical records website.  My dad has already done a lot of research so I have a lot to work with!

I think the most rewarding part about doing genealogy is when I get to go do temple work for my ancestors.  This week, Raul and I did 21 baptisms and confirmations for my ancestors.  Next week we're going to start doing the next ordinances for them.  This work is helping me feel closer to my family in many ways.  I hope I continue to be diligent about it after this semester.

BYU's Luau practice

This week was my first practice for BYU's Luau.  I signed up to be in the Tahiti and Hawaii sections; however, after the 6am Tahiti practice, I decided just to stick to one section.  My legs were so sore after the Tahiti practice, that I couldn't find the energy to wake up for the 8am practice for Hawaii on Saturday morning.  Tahitian dancing is my favorite, so I feel good about staying with that.  I am not a morning person, but I only have the 6am practice once a week and it will be worth it.  I love BYU's Luau and it is so exciting to perform.  I performed in the luau a few years ago and loved it.  I also performed in BYU's Fiesta, the Latin dance performance, but I prefer the Polynesian show.  I think Polynesian culture is so exotic and enchanting. 

Dance practice is really demanding with all the leg and arm movement going on!  I had to do "duck walks" (when you basically dance in a squatting position for an extended period).  My legs are still sore!  It has been a while since I've used these muscles.  It is the good kind of sore though and I'm excited to get toned up for the big show in March!  

Our first full weeks back to school

This week has been our first full week back to school!  Raul is taking English, P.E., Math, and History this semester.  I'm taking Language Assessment, Writing for business, Reading acquisition, History of Creativity, and Family History.  It is crazy to think this is my last semester at Brigham Young University.  I will be graduating this April!  Raul, on the other hand, has a long way to go.  This is his second semester at Utah Valley University and he is studying to become a dentist.  We will be in Utah for a long time!  It's a good thing I love it here. 

Right now I am working at the Missionary Training Center and am extremely happy there.  Sadly, when I graduate I'll have to find another job.  The MTC only hires students for part-time positions.  I need to start looking for other jobs to prepare for the transition into the career world!

First week down!

Raul and I have been married a little over a week now!  (I'm starting this blog as an assignment for my English class at BYU.)