Embrace it all!

A taxi ride with our church's young women

I mentioned before that I have been working with the young ladies (12-18 years old) that go to my church. What I didn't mention is how much fun I am having. I feel like I am in high school again (I don't know if that is a bad thing or a good thing).

A few weeks ago we did a service project where we made and delivered frozen meals to families in our church that recently had a babies. It was so fun as we had a poem/cheer prepared for each house we visited. Each of us were in charge of memorizing a line and to make up actions that accompanied that line. It made for a fun and humorous introduction.

Throughout the night our introduction continued to get more and more elaborate, where eventually we tried to get the girls to do a little dance when they said who they were. They weren't too excited about that, but Suzi (the other leader) and I sure were! ha

This service project of making and delivering meals to five new families may seem like an easy task for those in suburbs or in "normal-ville;" however, this was quite a feat for us in the city where no one has a car and using public transportation would have taken all night. It was so surreal for me to have all the girls piled in a taxi as we went to the different apartments doing our service for the recent moms.

Living in NYC is so different from where I grew up, a little suburb where there are no trains and using a bus would be really embarrassing (hahaha). Is a life out of the city better or worse? I don't think it is either, it's just so different. There are certain things that are more challenging, like this particular evening where getting from place to place was difficult. However, then I think about all the fun we had trying to hail a cab, walking from one apartment to the next, being piled in back of a cab with a bunch of girls laughing and giggling and a cab driver not knowing quite what to make of it all.

In a city, such as New York, there are many things that may seem inconvenient or hard; however, if you focus on the positives they will always outshine the negatives. You just need to embrace it all!

Valerie and Sandy in the Big Apple

Valerie waving "hello"

This past week Pat's mom, Valerie, and her cousin, Sandy, came to visit us in the Big Apple. Valerie and Sandy have never been to New York, so it was fun to have them experience the unique culture and for them to fall in love with the city that we are so lucky to live in. Sandy even teared up a little bit when talking about how much she loved the city and how lucky we are to live here. And we agree.

Pat and I love having visitors so much because it forces us to actually get out and see the city! We have been so complacent/lazy recently and have not been going out like we should. However, with this last visit from Pat's mom and her cousin, it rejuvenated us and got us excited again about all this city have to offer--You can never see it all. 

Unfortunately, I didn't get to spend too much time with Valerie and Sandy while they were here. Pat was able to take a few days off while I had to work. They were able to cover a lot of ground and see many of the tourist attractions; however, I was only able to visit a few destination spots: Pat's work, Central Park, South Sea Port, and Strawberry fields.

Sandy loves New York this much.

 

The Dakota, where John Lennon was shot.

Singer at Strawberry Fields that was VERY good.

This picture is for Pat. We always have to give a little shout out to falconers.

The Freedom Tower. Still has a ways to go.

Our Little Mutant

I was getting ready, putting on my makeup the other morning and Montee just watched me from under the covers like this. I guess it was a little cold, but he still wanted to know what was going on and didn't want to miss anything.

DIY {Interactive Pull-tab Invitation}

I am planning a baby shower. My second one ever. I was pretty nervous for the first baby shower I threw, but this time I have a experience, a partner and pinterest. What more could a girl need? The whole planning process has been really fun and I can't wait for the actual event.

We decided on a sailboat theme, and through doing internet and pinterest research, I finally stole enough ideas from other people to come up with this interactive-pull-tab invitation.

It was so fun and easy to create and I loved the results. Hopefully it was a little more fun to receive than a normal invite.

Here are the steps:

1. Digitally design card and all elements to get proper measurements (hardest part).
2. Print and cut out page elements
3. Cut slit in paper where moving element is going to be placed
4, 5, 6. Place moving element in slit
7. Stick double sided tape on sides and bottom to cover up slit. Do not place tap on top where element will move
8. Place whatever is going to be covering the slit on top of the slit
9. Tip to fit card
10, 11. Can cut out a half circle where tab pokes out to make it easier to grab
12. Stick double sided tape on back of card and place back cover, which will cover the slit on back of paper and act as a border
13, 14, 15. Pull, Pull, Pull and enjoy.

Becoming a New Yorker ain't such a bad thing

Last week, upon arriving home from work a normal looking 40-something gentleman was standing in my walk-up building's doorway. I didn't think any of it since this happens quite often because I live above a laundromat and people hangout outside as they are waiting for the laundry to get done.

As I approached the man and he saw that I actually lived in the building he moved out of the way for me enter. Since living in New York and hearing horrible stories, I always look over my back as I am entering my building to make sure that no one follows me inside. As I did this I saw that the man was trying to enter the building with me. Then the conversation went as follows:

Lindsay: Can I help you?
Man: I just want to get in the building to see how many apartments there are.
Lindsay: You can see how many apartments there are by looking at the buzzers (pointing to all the buttons to the apartments where you buzz someones apartment).
Man: Oh. Yeah. I know. But. I just want to look inside.
Lindsay: I am sorry I can't let you in. Are you with a company or something?
Man: No. Which company?
Lindsay: I don't know. You tell me.
Man: I just want to take a look inside really quick.
Lindsay: I am sorry I can't let you in. Why do you want to look inside?
Man: (Shocked and frustrated I wasn't giving in) For PERSONAL reasons.
Lindsay: I am sorry I can't let you in. You will have to wait for someone else (as I shut the glass door in his face and he just stares at me, much like that one Seinfeld episode). 

While this was happening I was not scared or even alarmed. This has happened before; however, usually they back down and are not so persistent. It wasn't until the situation was over and the fact that he would not give me a legitimate reason of why he wanted to get in the building that I started to see red flags. I am not saying that if I did let him in something horrible would have happened, but it was evident that this man was not "normal" to be so persistent to a young female who didn't want to be followed into her building. Any "normal" human being would have understood that and backed down quickly right when they realized I was uncomfortable.

I am sharing this story because I know a year ago I would have let this man into my building in fear of seeming naive or rude. I wouldn't have wanted him to feel uncomfortable and would have just given in. Even looking back on this situation and how I handled it, it still is apparent that I still have a lot to learn.

Because I should have done this...

I hope, even if you don't live in New York City, that you or I never do something that may potentially harm you/me out of fear of seeming rude. People should know the social boundaries of what is appropriate and what is not. If they do not abide by these social norms then you either need to let them know or get the heck out of there. 

Willow, the Miracle Cat

Did you hear about this miracle cat?

A calico cat named Willow, who disappeared from a home near the Rocky Mountains five years ago, was found Wednesday on a Manhattan street and will soon be returned to a family in which two of the three kids and one of the two dogs may remember her.

How she got to New York, more than 1,600 miles away, and the kind of life she lived in the city are mysteries. But thanks to a microchip implanted when she was a kitten, Willow will be reunited in Colorado with her owners, who had long ago given up hope.

I loved reading this story, in part because I am exhausted of hearing only depressing news stories, so this one was a breath of fresh air.

I think it is amazing that first the cat made the journey, somehow, from Colorado all the way to New York. And second that the family has moved in the last 5 years but kept the microchip address updated, even though they assumed the cat had been killed by coyotes! Now that's the power of positive thinking!

Now we gotta get Montee microchipped.

Way Back When

What happened to the days when friends would get together and choreograph a good dance video? I long for those days. We had a night like this back in Provo in 2007 when Pat and I were dating. Just reminiscing.

I am messed up

Pat showed me this video the other day. I watched it about 20 times and just about died from not being able to breathe because I was crying because I was laughing so hard, which just proved to me that I am definitely messed up. 

Pat started a video blog of any video out there that is notable. Check it out. 

Miso....WHAT?

Has this ever happened to you? I know it has happened to me too many times and I finally found out why!

Yesterday I got at call at work from my mom. She was excited to tell me that "Kelly" has the same problem I have. When she said this I was confused for two reasons:

1. Who the heck was Kelly?
2. What problem do I have?

I should have known the answer to number one — of course my mom would be on a first name basis with Kelly Ripa. But number two? What could I possibly have in common with Kelly Ripa?

My mom proceeded to tell me that on the Regis and Kelly show that morning, Kelly self-diagnosed herself with a disorder called misophonia. Miso - what? I know, sounds serious, right? And it is!  And after my mom told me all the symptoms, there is NO DOUBT that I totally have it too!

Misophonia is a condition where certain sounds can literally drive a person crazy. Apparently, Kelly Ripa opened yesterday's episode of Live! with Regis and Kelly that she believes that she has misophonia. Ever since she was a child, the sound of chewing drives her nuts. Her children have been trained to eat quietly with their mouths closed, and she “has to leave the house” if her husband eats a “juicy peach”.

When my mom told me this, I couldn't believe it. I wasn't alone! I have struggled with this problem my whole life, and it was so great to hear, even though it still means I am NUTS, that at least there is a reason for my insanity, which in a weird way is really comforting.

As a kid, I used to get so angry when people ate loudly. When the noises first started to annoy me I used to say a rude comment or get really angry. However, when I saw how my comments usually started a fight, I learned that it was just easier for me to leave the room. Yet, I still left the room fuming with anger at how disgusting the person was for all the gross sounds they were making.

As I have gotten older I have learned how to control my reaction. The solution for me usually just involves "getting the heck out of there!" I have been known to move seats in a movie theater (which by the way is a misophoniacs HELL because of all the popcorn, chewy snacks, and gum that usually accompanies a movie, especially when people get excited during intense scenes), leave classes during college and church, switch subway cars, leave or switch seats at a restaurant so I don't have to hear or even watch a person chew out of control, and ALWAYS leave the room when my husband is breathing loudly or eating cereal/soup or something chewy. I know it is ridiculous that I go so nuts about a "small little sound," but to me the sound is not small at all and it actually causes me mental anguish.

When I found out that this is actually a diagnosed disorder, I felt a sense of freedom and relief. I have always kept my hatred for these sounds and my reaction to them under raps because it's embarrassing. However, now that a well liked celebrity has the same problem, for some reason, I feel liberated and no longer entrapped by my issues. hahhaha

After I got off the phone with my mom I researched the disorder and found I fit the profile to a "T."

Here is what I found:
Misophonia is not a problem with the hearing pathways in the brain. Instead, there is an abnormally strong reaction of the limbic (emotional system) and autonomic nervous system (body control system) which are closely connected with the auditory (hearing) system. Hearing the hated sound activates a “Fight or Flight” response — either you become angry and potentially violent or you get anxious and run away.

According to support organization Misophonia UK :

• the age of onset will often be around 10-12
• the “trigger” sounds which tend to be most difficult are connected with eating and breathing
• the reaction starts with the sound (or some aspect of the sound) and often develops to include actions associated with the sound and even anticipation of those actions
• the closer the sufferer is emotionally to the “trigger” person, the more offensive the sound tends to be
• the reaction is experienced most commonly as extreme rage
• the trigger sound can create an overwhelming fight or flight response in the sufferer, so they experience a desire to do extreme violence to the maker of the sound, or to escape the vicinity of the sound at all costs.

Reading over those bullet points makes me laugh because every one is so true and I have story to accompany each one. When telling Pat about this I was giddy with excitement, which he didn't understand as he informed me that all it means is that I am "nuts."

True, but at least I am a "nut" with a name.

A little help from our friends

I received an email a few days ago from our good friends Nate and Meri, aka our summer roommates back in 2009 when Pat interned here in the city. The email solicited prayers and help for their dear friends that have recently been through a traumatic and life altering tragedy.

Meri writes:

"I'm reaching out today because we have some friends in need of help. Three weeks ago, Nate got a call from our friend Rob. It was actually his wife Mercedi, who told us that something was wrong with Rob and that she needed help. Rob was rushed to the hospital, and we later found out that he had a stroke caused by a defect in his brain.

Rob is only 30 years old, and was just weeks away from finishing a decade of dentistry school and starting his career as an endodontist (root canal specialist). Rob and Mercedi have two boys, who aren't old enough to understand what has happened to their Dad. The doctors have said that Rob may never walk or talk again, but miracles are happening and Rob has shown some positive signs. We're all hopeful that Rob's progress continues (you can follow Rob's progress here).

One thing is certain: life for the Hales has changed and they could use some help. If there's room for Rob and the Hales in your prayers, please remember them. As you can imagine, the Hales have a mountain of student loans and medical bills to face. If you can make any contribution to the "Helping Rob Heal" fund, please do." 

When I read this email and went to their blog and saw the sweet family whose hopes and dreams for future have been crushed in one single moment, my heart sank. My heart sank even more as I thought of his wife, the mother of two small beautiful boys, facing the future alone with the uncertainty of her husbands health and the tremendous burden of school loans, that may never be able to be paid off through the normal means of her husband using his education in his line of work, and not to mention the medical bills that will most certainly ensue such a catastrophic event.

I laid awake last night unable to sleep as I thought about all the sleepless nights Rob's wife, Mercedi, must have. I thought about the terrifying thoughts and worries that must haunt her not only in her dreams, but when she wakes up and finds them to be reality.

Rob and Mercedi seemed to have had it all. He was one month away from graduating in a specialized field that would grant them a comfortable life with their two boys that they deserved after 10 years of school. They were moving to a new city, with a new house, starting a new life. A life full of happiness and hope. Mercedi writes on her blog:


"Today all I could think about was how we were supposed to have gone to our new ward in Denver today. We would have been unpacking the house and having so much fun in the back yard. I wish that’s where we were and what we were doing. I need to work harder on letting that go. I know those things are not going to happen but it was going to be perfect. Oh, well."


I know you don't know Rob or Mercedi, either do I, but isn't it amazing how technology has allowed us to help those in need who live hundreds, if not thousands, of miles away? I know sometimes people feel it isn't worth it to give anything since they feel they can't give "enough" to actually make a difference. However, it boggles my mind to think about if everyone just gave one dollar the amount of help that would offer because all those one dollar bills add up.

There is a link on their blog that allows people to contribute, allowing us to relieve just a little bit of the financial burden this family now faces, even if all we can give is one dollar.

I am a little overwhelmed with the world right now. With the 10 year anniversary of September 11th coming up, it is especially hard not to get depressed over all the sadness that people endure on a day to day basis. It's hard to be hopeful for the future when all I can think about is that it is only a matter of time until it's my turn. Then again, it's hard to be thankful that isn't not you, because that just doesn't feel right. It's hard to see the purpose behind all the hurt and to not to ask "why."

But I guess that is where faith comes in, without faith, where would I be? That is even a scarier thought.

A BBQ with a View

On Saturday we were invite to attend one of Pat's ex-coworker's BBQ. We thought we knew what to expect because we have been to several BBQ's here in the city. Usually they are on someone's 5th story roof top, the seating is limited if there is any seating, you have to be extra careful because it feels as though certain spots of the roof might cave in, and the food is subpar at its best.

However, when we arrived at the destination where the BBQ was being held, we knew we were in for no-ordinary-BBQ when we walked into the sky rise building's lobby and there was a three story high waterfall, this building was luxury at it's finest.

We then enjoyed a relaxing evening, appreciating the fast approaching Fall weather, as we sat in the buildings court yard. The court yard was spacious (such an anomaly in the city) with plenty of comfortable patio seating, trees, grass, and a beautiful view of the surrounding Midtown buildings. Then. came. the. food. All the food from the salad to even the water was totally gourmet and tasted fantastic. It was an intimate gathering and we felt privilege to be invited and to get to know the other guests. 

After we finished dinner we headed up to the roof top, where the view rivaled the Empire State buildings view. It could even be argued that it was better since the we had a magnificent view of the Empire State Building. We enjoyed the rest of the night feeding of the energy of the surrounding city of Manhattan as the twinkling city lights once again reminded us how lucky we are to live here.

What Up, Montee?

Montee is always cold because of his mutation. We even have a heating pad in his cat bed to keep him warm. We also bought him this cat sweatshirt to keep warm. Okay. Not really. We bought him the cat sweatshirt because it is just so cool and makes our cat look like a thug.

"Gotta have faith" -George Michael

Recently, I have been asked to work with the12-18 year old young ladies that go to my church. In accepting this responsibility I plan and participate in uplifting activities with them once a week, help them plan and accomplish spiritual goals as well as build and enhance their talents, get to know them, and give a lesson on various religious subjects once to twice a month.

Today I gave a lesson on faith and more specifically having faith in Jesus Christ. A broad subject for sure, but probably the most important subject to discuss and learn about not only for youth, but for every single person. We discussed a lot about how faith is an action word and how it requires us to do something in order to receive, maintain and increase our faith.

In preparing, I came across a speech given by Richard G. Scott, one of the 12 apostles in The Church of Jesus Christ of later-day saints. Since the Mormon church is literally the same church that Jesus Christ created when he was on the earth, it follows the same organization Christ established, including having 12 apostles.

The speech touched on many of the principles of faith I wanted the girls to understand and practice in their own lives and the above quote said it all.

A few weeks ago I saw a quote on my friends blog, I loved the quote but I also loved the design. So, because pretty things are so much nicer to look at, I took the faith quote I liked from Richard G. Scott's speech and modeled it after the design of the quote on my friends blog to give to the girls so they can remember and apply what was discussed during class into their lives.

Best Friends 4 Ever

I have this best friend. Her name is Meghan. She moved to my small town of Moraga, Ca when she was in 7^th grade. She was so cool, with her baggy jeans and east coast style. Everyone wanted to be her friend, including me. However, it was not until our final years of high school that we became inseparable. Wherever Meghan was, I was, and vise versa. This even continued throughout college where we experienced everything together, including her joining the Mormon Church and a life changing car accident. Everything we have been through together has made our friendship a binding force that can never be broken. Since getting married we are no longer with each other 24/7, as life has moved us a continent apart. However, I quickly learned, this past weekend, that our friendship will never end as Meghan made a huge sacrifice to be with me and my family for my grandma’s funeral.

Having Meghan come to Bay Area was just like the good old days. It felt perfectly normal and just right having her be a part of our family activities over the weekend. After all, we all consider her a part of the family, regardless if she is “blood” or not.

And that is just it, calling Meghan my best friend is almost not even an appropriate title. To me, she is my sister, in that our bond will never end regardless of what life throws at us. We will always come back to each other and never skip a beat.  Even though we do not share a common family, we share life experiences that will forever unite us.

It was great having her there, even though much of the weekend must have been a complete bore. I cannot thank her enough for coming. Thanks Meghan!

Fentons Tummy Aches

The evening of my grandma’s service my family went to get ice cream at an old diner that holds a special place in all of our hearts from all the fond memories we hold dear from childhood.

My dad was Scout Master when we were kids. Each year they would hold a “Malt Drinking Contest” where the scouts would try to drink the most malts (thick milkshakes) at this diner. In order to win the Malt Cup Bronzed Trophy you had to drink the most malts without throwing up in the restaurants. Grossly enough, many did not make it outside the doors.

Even though there was no malt drinking contest this night, it was still fun trying to eat all the ice cream we were given. I have to admit I barely made a dent in mine.

Family Togetherness

With all my siblings living in different parts of the country, it is not often that we can all get together. It is even a more rare occurrence that we are able to get together without our spouses and kids, in fact I don’t think it has ever happened except for this past weekend. Even though I missed Pat like crazy, it was so great to bond with my siblings with out the stress of kids and in the simple unit we experienced as children, just the five of us (minus Kim’s husband Sean who always livens the mood).

Even though each Storm child is so different, we still manage to get along with all our unique attributes. Us all being so different actually adds a lot of dimension to each of our gatherings, I wouldn’t have it any other way.