Thursday, September 30, 2010
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
DAY 28 - Gentry
Official Topic: Someone That Changed My Life
My Take: Someone So Awesome They Made Me Look at My Life and Commit to be Better
Gentry was one of my kids my first week as an EFY counselor this summer. When the girls and the boys first met together, I thought he was going to be one of those talkative take-over types who thought they were so cool. I'm so glad I was wrong.
Dear Gentry,
I already wrote you a note thanking you for your great example, but constantly looking back on that week at EFY only reinforces my desire to become better. Thank you for stepping forward to lead the group, but making each and every one of your fellow participants feel important. You were reliable and caring and wise beyond your years.
At the Thursday night testimony meeting, it was a result of a rare strike of luck that our company was placed in a room alone, just us. I remember that when you bore your testimony, you cried. I so wanted to bear mine, and I've never had that strong of a feeling before, so when a Field Coordinator who was in just listening to our testimony meeting told us counselors we could get up, I jumped up first. I cried the whole way through, too. I don't think my eyes were dry once during the whole meeting.
But what really spikes in my memory is as we were leaving the building to return to our rooms for the night. I thanked you for your testimony, and you laughed a little and said something about if I could have even heard it, since you were crying. I told you that I could feel it, and placed my hand over my heart. My eyes welled up again as you told me you could feel my testimony, too, even before I bore it.
I guess you were just the right combination of assurance and encouragement that I needed right then. Once again, the teacher learns more than the student.
Thanks for coming that week, Gentry. Thanks for showing me what kind of person God wants us to be. Thank you for showing me that living the gospel is the most exciting and invigorating thing I could do with my life. Thank you for making me want to be better.
Sincerely,
Hilary
My Take: Someone So Awesome They Made Me Look at My Life and Commit to be Better
Gentry was one of my kids my first week as an EFY counselor this summer. When the girls and the boys first met together, I thought he was going to be one of those talkative take-over types who thought they were so cool. I'm so glad I was wrong.
Dear Gentry,
I already wrote you a note thanking you for your great example, but constantly looking back on that week at EFY only reinforces my desire to become better. Thank you for stepping forward to lead the group, but making each and every one of your fellow participants feel important. You were reliable and caring and wise beyond your years.
At the Thursday night testimony meeting, it was a result of a rare strike of luck that our company was placed in a room alone, just us. I remember that when you bore your testimony, you cried. I so wanted to bear mine, and I've never had that strong of a feeling before, so when a Field Coordinator who was in just listening to our testimony meeting told us counselors we could get up, I jumped up first. I cried the whole way through, too. I don't think my eyes were dry once during the whole meeting.
But what really spikes in my memory is as we were leaving the building to return to our rooms for the night. I thanked you for your testimony, and you laughed a little and said something about if I could have even heard it, since you were crying. I told you that I could feel it, and placed my hand over my heart. My eyes welled up again as you told me you could feel my testimony, too, even before I bore it.
I guess you were just the right combination of assurance and encouragement that I needed right then. Once again, the teacher learns more than the student.
Thanks for coming that week, Gentry. Thanks for showing me what kind of person God wants us to be. Thank you for showing me that living the gospel is the most exciting and invigorating thing I could do with my life. Thank you for making me want to be better.
Sincerely,
Hilary
Monday, September 27, 2010
DAY 27 - Peter
Official Topic: The Friendliest Person I Knew For Only One Day
I'm Gonna Say: The Friendliest Person I Knew For Only One Week
Note: "Peter" needs to be said in a sort of a wailing British accent, รก la Chronicles of Narnia. Also, Peter was one of my fellow counselors in EFY Week 2.
Dear Co-co,
Thanks for being so nice to me. Our Sunday night meeting before we found out our co-counselors ("Co-co"s, as you like to call them), you were sitting right behind me. You were really friendly with the people sitting next to you, and I remember thinking (without turning around), "I want that guy to be my counselor." But, since I never get the people I think I will, I didn't wish too hard. But alas, I was so pumped when we were in the same company! You never stopped smiling, and your investment in the kids made each one of them feel special.
Our "date" made my week, and chicken strips and ice cream was never so enjoyable (ok, so ice cream is really enjoyable all the time, but you know). Thanks for sharing your amazing photography skills with us that week and showing us how to have fun. Your example showed each of the boys how to enjoy the gospel and still have man-cred, and showed each of the girls what kind of man they deserved.
I will never forget your kindness or the spirit you brought to that week. Or that time I stole Whitney's backpack because I thought it was yours. Or when Kirstin took that picture... or how you danced with each one of our girls. Or how hard you searched for Kylie's last name.
I know you are doing great things literally all over the world. I hope you will be able to return to EFY next year!
Sincerely,
Hilary
I'm Gonna Say: The Friendliest Person I Knew For Only One Week
Note: "Peter" needs to be said in a sort of a wailing British accent, รก la Chronicles of Narnia. Also, Peter was one of my fellow counselors in EFY Week 2.
Dear Co-co,
Thanks for being so nice to me. Our Sunday night meeting before we found out our co-counselors ("Co-co"s, as you like to call them), you were sitting right behind me. You were really friendly with the people sitting next to you, and I remember thinking (without turning around), "I want that guy to be my counselor." But, since I never get the people I think I will, I didn't wish too hard. But alas, I was so pumped when we were in the same company! You never stopped smiling, and your investment in the kids made each one of them feel special.
Our "date" made my week, and chicken strips and ice cream was never so enjoyable (ok, so ice cream is really enjoyable all the time, but you know). Thanks for sharing your amazing photography skills with us that week and showing us how to have fun. Your example showed each of the boys how to enjoy the gospel and still have man-cred, and showed each of the girls what kind of man they deserved.
I will never forget your kindness or the spirit you brought to that week. Or that time I stole Whitney's backpack because I thought it was yours. Or when Kirstin took that picture... or how you danced with each one of our girls. Or how hard you searched for Kylie's last name.
I know you are doing great things literally all over the world. I hope you will be able to return to EFY next year!
Sincerely,
Hilary
Sunday, September 26, 2010
DAY 26 - Haleigh
What's Going Down: The Last Person I Made a Pinky Promise To
Dearest Haleigh,
Even though you can be the most annoying person I have ever beheld, I love you. I really do. And I am really grateful I've gotten better at that these past few years.
Can I just say some things that are awesome:
- Dancing and singing in the car together
- Driving you places
- Eating our vitamins together
- Talking about high school together
- Eating dinner that you made
- Emptying the dishwasher for Mom together
- Hearing you answer questions and realized that you've grown up.
I hope you can see that I've been trying to become a better sister. Because you're hilarious, and I love you. Even when you're ridiculous.
Love Always,
Hilary
P.S. And you better be keeping that pinky promise we made! I've heard you're doing all right. =)
Dearest Haleigh,
Even though you can be the most annoying person I have ever beheld, I love you. I really do. And I am really grateful I've gotten better at that these past few years.
Can I just say some things that are awesome:
- Dancing and singing in the car together
- Driving you places
- Eating our vitamins together
- Talking about high school together
- Eating dinner that you made
- Emptying the dishwasher for Mom together
- Hearing you answer questions and realized that you've grown up.
I hope you can see that I've been trying to become a better sister. Because you're hilarious, and I love you. Even when you're ridiculous.
Love Always,
Hilary
P.S. And you better be keeping that pinky promise we made! I've heard you're doing all right. =)
Saturday, September 25, 2010
DAY 25 - Grandma & Grandpa
Official Topic: The Person I Know Who is Going Through the Worst of Times
My Take: The People I Know Who are Going Through a Really Hard Time
Many years ago now, my Grandma Loray was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. She quickly was unable to walk or do anything for herself. For the past eight plus years, my Grandpa Gary has been taking care of her every need, from placing her in her wheelchair to adjusting her glasses when they droop down her nose.
Dear Grandma and Grandpa,
Thank you for your great examples. Even though I have seen the pain this situation has caused you both, I see more often how you both still do what you can to enjoy life. You each make the most of every day together.
Grandpa, I have never heard you complain. I know that being the primary caregiver for someone who can do very little can be very frustrating, but you still smile and laugh every day. Your faithfulness and willingness to serve, not only Grandma but the Lord through your weekly temple service and calling as patriarch, always comes to my mind whenever I am tired or fed up. (It doesn't hurt that you also look a lot like President Monson.)
Grandma, I admire how you do what you still can to learn and grow and keep your vibrant mind fresh. I have learned now that any annoyances you show to us is a pittance to the annoyance you must feel being trapped inside your own body. I am sorry I have not appreciated your sacrifices and love enough.
I love you both, and I am honored to have grandparents like you. Thank you for raising my mom so she could have me.
Love,
Hilary
My Take: The People I Know Who are Going Through a Really Hard Time
Many years ago now, my Grandma Loray was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. She quickly was unable to walk or do anything for herself. For the past eight plus years, my Grandpa Gary has been taking care of her every need, from placing her in her wheelchair to adjusting her glasses when they droop down her nose.
Dear Grandma and Grandpa,
Thank you for your great examples. Even though I have seen the pain this situation has caused you both, I see more often how you both still do what you can to enjoy life. You each make the most of every day together.
Grandpa, I have never heard you complain. I know that being the primary caregiver for someone who can do very little can be very frustrating, but you still smile and laugh every day. Your faithfulness and willingness to serve, not only Grandma but the Lord through your weekly temple service and calling as patriarch, always comes to my mind whenever I am tired or fed up. (It doesn't hurt that you also look a lot like President Monson.)
Grandma, I admire how you do what you still can to learn and grow and keep your vibrant mind fresh. I have learned now that any annoyances you show to us is a pittance to the annoyance you must feel being trapped inside your own body. I am sorry I have not appreciated your sacrifices and love enough.
I love you both, and I am honored to have grandparents like you. Thank you for raising my mom so she could have me.
Love,
Hilary
Friday, September 24, 2010
DAY 24 - Mr. Flohre
To: The Person That Gave Me My Favorite Memory
Mr. Flohre was my band director in high school (not a date to a school dance, as I've been asked before as a result of the picture below. bahaha). He also hired me this summer to help out at band camp.
Mr. Flohre,
I am so grateful I had you for a teacher, and for a friend (even if you are really slow at answering emails. even though you check them all the time...). Thank you for letting me crash in your office every morning, every afternoon, and when I didn't feel right. Looking back now, I was a very pushy and needy high schooler, but you put up with it. I was astonished at some of the things I did back then, but thanks for not hating me.
I think back to the time I was in Seussical. You said you weren't going to be able to make it to the show, and I thought that was so lame! That show was like, the pinnacle of my achievement (or something). But the next school day after the shows, you subtly said something about our performance, and I knew that you had gone. You sneaked in, you sneaked out, but you came, and that made me truly happy.
Your Music Theory class was both the hardest and most rewarding class I've ever taken. I loved our tiny group, and even though being put on the spot scared me out of my mind, I learned a lot. I learned how to take confidence in what I was good at, and how to work at the things I wasn't. I learned that all things wouldn't come easy to me, and that was just fine.
Thanks for caring about your job, and your students. Thanks for giving me a place in the band program. That's exactly what I needed those long years of high school. And working at band camp was exactly what I needed this past summer.
Sincerely,
Hilary
P.S. A minor seventh is still my favorite interval.
P.P.S. I still think you making us put up devil horns every time you played the devil's tone was lame.
Mr. Flohre was my band director in high school (not a date to a school dance, as I've been asked before as a result of the picture below. bahaha). He also hired me this summer to help out at band camp.
Mr. Flohre,
I am so grateful I had you for a teacher, and for a friend (even if you are really slow at answering emails. even though you check them all the time...). Thank you for letting me crash in your office every morning, every afternoon, and when I didn't feel right. Looking back now, I was a very pushy and needy high schooler, but you put up with it. I was astonished at some of the things I did back then, but thanks for not hating me.
I think back to the time I was in Seussical. You said you weren't going to be able to make it to the show, and I thought that was so lame! That show was like, the pinnacle of my achievement (or something). But the next school day after the shows, you subtly said something about our performance, and I knew that you had gone. You sneaked in, you sneaked out, but you came, and that made me truly happy.
Your Music Theory class was both the hardest and most rewarding class I've ever taken. I loved our tiny group, and even though being put on the spot scared me out of my mind, I learned a lot. I learned how to take confidence in what I was good at, and how to work at the things I wasn't. I learned that all things wouldn't come easy to me, and that was just fine.
Thanks for caring about your job, and your students. Thanks for giving me a place in the band program. That's exactly what I needed those long years of high school. And working at band camp was exactly what I needed this past summer.
Sincerely,
Hilary
P.S. A minor seventh is still my favorite interval.
P.P.S. I still think you making us put up devil horns every time you played the devil's tone was lame.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
DAY 22 - Sacbut
The Daily Dish: Someone I Want to Give Another Chance To
Stephen (aka Sacbut - I know, it's awesome) happens to be the twin of Nick-Nac, and so was also a freshman my last year in band.
Dear Stephen,
You were the annoying one. Not gonna lie. But I think you knew that, because you've grown past it and become awesome. I was so surprised at how mature you had become when I worked at band camp this summer. You are still funny, just more appropriately so. And the way you took it upon yourself to help Rubio... we loved it. Although I still don't understand why you insisted on wearing arm weights all the time... but you and your bandit scarf were pretty great. And the time you and Mr. Flohre switched places will become a classic tale told for years to come. I'm impressed, Sacbut. You've grown up, and can I just say that I loved hanging out with you and Greg after the band banquet? It made me miss high school all over again.
Don't Mess It Up,
Hilary
Stephen (aka Sacbut - I know, it's awesome) happens to be the twin of Nick-Nac, and so was also a freshman my last year in band.
Dear Stephen,
You were the annoying one. Not gonna lie. But I think you knew that, because you've grown past it and become awesome. I was so surprised at how mature you had become when I worked at band camp this summer. You are still funny, just more appropriately so. And the way you took it upon yourself to help Rubio... we loved it. Although I still don't understand why you insisted on wearing arm weights all the time... but you and your bandit scarf were pretty great. And the time you and Mr. Flohre switched places will become a classic tale told for years to come. I'm impressed, Sacbut. You've grown up, and can I just say that I loved hanging out with you and Greg after the band banquet? It made me miss high school all over again.
Don't Mess It Up,
Hilary
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
DAY 21 - Matt J.
What's Going Down: Someone I Judged by Their First Impression
Matt was one of my kids my first week counseloring at EFY this summer. I wrote him a note after the week was over, but I don't think I have blogged about him yet.
Dear Matt,
You're probably proud of the first impression I had of you, but I am more proud of the person you truly are. When I saw your gauge earrings, your too-relaxed posture, and heard the side comments you made and the participation you withheld, I thought I knew you.
But for some reason I was drawn to you. Those things didn't turn me away, like they normally would. I am so grateful Heavenly Father gave me the patience to work hard on you. I loved hassling you, and the moment when you came up to me and asked me to help you find scriptures to study, my heart leapt. As cheesy as it sounds, I look back on that morning as one of the happiest of my life. Everything pinged into place for me at that moment, and I knew then that it was all true. The gospel is worth it.
You helped me more that week than I possibly helped you, Matt. I wanted this week of EFY to be different for you, and it was because you worked for it. Ivan and Abbie and the other kids and I helped a little along the way, but you did most it yourself. You let the change happen.
Comparing you on the first day and you on the last day just blows my mind. I've never been more happy to be wrong about something! Rock on.
Sincerely,
Hilary
Matt was one of my kids my first week counseloring at EFY this summer. I wrote him a note after the week was over, but I don't think I have blogged about him yet.
Dear Matt,
You're probably proud of the first impression I had of you, but I am more proud of the person you truly are. When I saw your gauge earrings, your too-relaxed posture, and heard the side comments you made and the participation you withheld, I thought I knew you.
But for some reason I was drawn to you. Those things didn't turn me away, like they normally would. I am so grateful Heavenly Father gave me the patience to work hard on you. I loved hassling you, and the moment when you came up to me and asked me to help you find scriptures to study, my heart leapt. As cheesy as it sounds, I look back on that morning as one of the happiest of my life. Everything pinged into place for me at that moment, and I knew then that it was all true. The gospel is worth it.
You helped me more that week than I possibly helped you, Matt. I wanted this week of EFY to be different for you, and it was because you worked for it. Ivan and Abbie and the other kids and I helped a little along the way, but you did most it yourself. You let the change happen.
Comparing you on the first day and you on the last day just blows my mind. I've never been more happy to be wrong about something! Rock on.
Sincerely,
Hilary
Monday, September 20, 2010
DAY 20 - Kyle
To: The Person That Broke My Heart the Hardest
I feel like my relationship with Kyle has taken up a huge part of my life. If I have not written much about him here, know that he has taken up more journal pages than anything else combined. But I have long dwelt on the unhappiness and the unfairness of it all, much too long. Nowadays I prefer to focus on the happiness of our relationship, and what I learned from it. I am grateful beyond words for Kyle, but I am also grateful that our time together is over. He taught me a lot, but it is from others I must learn now.
From my journal, after my first trip home from college since graduating high school:
January 4, 2009
... I saw Kyle and Greg, which was so wonderful. I think we all really needed to see each other and be physically reassured of our forgiveness for each other. I am so grateful that our friendship and love for each other was strong enough to push through this.
Kyle said something jokingly about how I didn't really want to see him at the end of last year, and I didn't lie. I agreed. I didn't really want to see him. But I really did this break and I think it was so good. We apologized for our bad things. I thought it was interesting... he apologized for being really antagonistic instead of loving towards the end, and he said he thought it was because he just didn't want me to leave. I didn't want to leave either... was that it? Was that why it happened? It broke my heart. Maybe subconsciously we thought it'd be easier to leave each other if we didn't like each other and were rude.
Anyways, then he said he didn't realize how much he missed me until he saw me again... I think it was the same for me. I knew I missed him a bunch, but knowing we've forgiven each other makes me miss him again now.
I feel like my relationship with Kyle has taken up a huge part of my life. If I have not written much about him here, know that he has taken up more journal pages than anything else combined. But I have long dwelt on the unhappiness and the unfairness of it all, much too long. Nowadays I prefer to focus on the happiness of our relationship, and what I learned from it. I am grateful beyond words for Kyle, but I am also grateful that our time together is over. He taught me a lot, but it is from others I must learn now.
From my journal, after my first trip home from college since graduating high school:
January 4, 2009
... I saw Kyle and Greg, which was so wonderful. I think we all really needed to see each other and be physically reassured of our forgiveness for each other. I am so grateful that our friendship and love for each other was strong enough to push through this.
Kyle said something jokingly about how I didn't really want to see him at the end of last year, and I didn't lie. I agreed. I didn't really want to see him. But I really did this break and I think it was so good. We apologized for our bad things. I thought it was interesting... he apologized for being really antagonistic instead of loving towards the end, and he said he thought it was because he just didn't want me to leave. I didn't want to leave either... was that it? Was that why it happened? It broke my heart. Maybe subconsciously we thought it'd be easier to leave each other if we didn't like each other and were rude.
Anyways, then he said he didn't realize how much he missed me until he saw me again... I think it was the same for me. I knew I missed him a bunch, but knowing we've forgiven each other makes me miss him again now.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)