Pioneer Day

Ok, so I know that Pioneer Day was LAST week, but I'm running right on time with my "running-one-week-behind-schedule" schedule. So it's all good, right?

For those of you who may not know what the significance of July 24th is to all Utah Latter-day Saints (and other Latter-day Saints, too, but mostly the Utah ones), then let me explain: on July 24, 1847, the Mormon pioneers made their way into the Salt Lake Valley after a long and arduous trek across the United States. Their trek was the result of bitter persecutions, and they sought a place where they could be free to establish their families and their religion without being driven from their homes.

Long story short: the pioneers settled in the Salt Lake Valley and other outlying Utah towns, and they and their families have been there ever since. And to honor their courage and sacrifice, their descendants (and other residents of Utah) throw a huge party every year on the 24th of July.

I found myself in the middle of these festivities last Monday, and as I was sitting watching the parade go by, I kept thinking about the pioneers and all the trials they had to endure, and all the sacrifices they had to make in order for people like me (a mostly-direct descendant of the Mormon pioneers in the Martin and Willie Handcart Companies) to be able to live the way I do now and practice my religion without having to worry about the government (among others) trying to kill me and anyone else who believes what I believe. I am truly grateful for the freedoms I enjoy now because of the faith of the Mormon pioneers, and I'm also grateful the heritage and the legacy they have left for me and others.

You don't have to [pull] a handcart,
Leave your family dear,
Or walk a thousand miles or more
To be a pioneer.


You do need to have great courage,
Faith to conquer fear,
And work with might for a cause that's right
To be a pioneer.

-LDS Children's Songbook, #218


In our own way, we can all be pioneers. It most likely won't be easy, and at times we'll just want to give up. But the blessings will be worth it in the end, and I'm sure our posterity will be forever grateful to us for our courage and sacrifice.

"Happy day! All is well!"

Smile

There are very few things I love more than music. Especially when said music belongs to one of the greats: Michael Bublé, The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Frank Sinatra, Josh Groban, The Mormon Tabernacle Choir.... oh wait. I said that one already.


But today's post contains the work of another favorite: Nat King Cole. Ohhhhhhh, I just love this man. His music is, shall we say, "unforgettable." *wink wink* Today's post, however, is inspired by his song, "Smile." 


Smile though your heart is aching
Smile even though it's breaking
When there are clouds in the sky, you'll get by
If you smile through your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You'll see the sun come shining through for you

Light up your face with gladness
Hide every trace of sadness
Although a tear may be ever so near

That's the time you must keep on trying.

Smile, what's the use of crying?
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just smile.

That's the time you must keep on trying.
Smile, what's the use of crying?
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just smile.

I believe that a smile goes a long way. It has the power to make you and others feel happy. To me, a smile is like saying, "I am determined not to let life get me down. I will choose to be happy instead of miserable." In fact, smiling when you don't feel like smiling is usually a great way to convince your brain that you actually do feel like smiling, and that life is not as horrendous as it seems. :)


I love to smile. When you work as a receptionist, smiling is part of the job description. Every day, I attempt to make eye contact with every person who passes my desk and give them all a winning smile as they go by. (Granted, not everyone will return the smile, or even make eye contact in the first place- I work in a predominantly male, computer technology environment, so need I say more?)


I love seeing the reactions that a simple smile can bring. I've had more than one person, on more than one occasion, tell me that they love walking by my desk because of my cheerful, sunny smile. (That just warms my heart right there, folks.) There are also people who I can tell are taken aback by my attentiveness; when they glance in my direction and accidentally make eye contact with me, they seem surprised that I'm actually looking back at them and willing to give a smile just for them, and it makes me chuckle inside to know that maybe I caught them off guard and forced a smile out of them, so to speak. It gives me great satisfaction to know that I can occasionally get even the most quiet, shy, reserved employees to crack a smile as they walk by, and some of them have even started to take the initiative and smile at me first! That's a great feeling, let me tell you.


Smiling, in my opinion, is the simplest (and often most poignant) form of service. Here's a little challenge for you: smile at as many people as you can. Even if you encounter the most annoying person on the planet, and you'd much rather flip them the bird than anything else (not that I approve of that kind of thing... it's just an expression), try making eye contact with said person and purposefully give them a smile instead. A smile really does something for the soul, and it quite likely will have the effect of cheering whomever you care to grace with one of your smiles.


And the best thing about smiling? It's free. :)

Life is pretty dang good

You know, my resolution to update this blog more often has pretty much epically failed. I'm not really the blogging kind, I guess. I check Facebook pretty often, and that's how I keep in touch with people and let people know what's going on in my life, but I can't seem to find the time to update the good ol' blog.


Well, I can't guarantee that I will update this post regularly, or even every once in a while, but I will try not to completely forget about this blog and leave it floating around in the great, vast ocean that is the Internet.


To start out this post, I would just like to begin by saying that I feel so very blessed right now, and there are several reasons why, but they require a little explanation first.


This past year (2010) has felt almost like a waste of time, mostly because I felt like I had nothing to show for it (like a finished Bachelor's degree (or even a begun one), or a wonderful dream job that was bringing in lots of money.) I spent most of the year (well, it felt like most of the year) unemployed and looking for work. I did find a short-lived and rather undesirable position at a local non-profit organization, and then I did a brief stint at the LDS Business College Help Desk (again) while I decided not to pursue a Paralegal degree. I felt like I got a lot of nothing accomplished in 2010.


Which isn't to say that 2010 wasn't fun. Sure it was! Because I was unemployed and not really in school, I had extra time on my hands to spend with friends (summer movie nights, anyone?), and I was able to participate in wonderful events such as singing with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir one Sunday morning (thanks to the LDSBC Choir I was in at the time) and performing on Temple Square with The Harmony Sisters at Christmastime. All-in-all, I was a busy, reasonably cheerful woman.... but I still felt like my life was on hold.


Do you know what the problem was? I wasn't taking the time to realize that I really was accomplishing a great many things, even though I felt like I was accomplishing nothing:

• Getting into the Bells on Temple Square and being set apart as a special music missionary is not "nothing." (I was selected to become a member of the BOTS in February 2011.) In fact, it's been one of my dreams for the past five or six years to become a member of the Bells, and now I can officially say that I have accomplished that goal. 
• Being an active member of the Church and a dedicated helper to those in my ward is pretty special, too. I was able to hold a number of different callings in my former ward (the Bountiful Millstream YSA Ward), and I am very grateful for the opportunity I had to serve in a variety of capacities and learn more about myself and others in the process. I made some very wonderful friends during my time in that ward (almost exactly two years, I'm thinking), and I hope to keep in contact with them. There has never been a ward like the Millstream Ward, and I'm going to miss it dearly. Life won't be quite the same without it, but I will just have to find ways to serve in my new ward. (Rose Park YSA Ward >> Salt Lake Pioneer YSA Stake.)
• Finding a job (after much searching and almost giving up hope) with the Church is also a significant occurrence. For those of you who don't know (and I'm pretty sure all my readers DO know because, seriously, who reads this blog?), I work as a receptionist in the Information and Communication Services (ICS) Department of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I don't quite believe in "luck;" I think "blessed" is a better, more accurate term. I feel like I wasn't just placed in this position by accident. Oh no. In fact, I'm pretty sure that I have the position I have now only because I had help; if I'd been left to my own devices, I don't think I would have made it past that first interview, if I'd even gotten an interview in the first place. *Side note: For those of you who don't know (sheesh, I keep using that phrase, don't I?), I'm horrible at interviews. Absolutely, fantastically horrible. In fact, every position I've ever interviewed for, I've never gotten. Every job I've had in my life so far is because I've been referred by someone I know, and I'm essentially the only one applying for the position. Granted, there are probably reasons (divine intervention, if you catch my drift) why I haven't gotten certain positions, but I still think that my abysmal interviewing skills are a slight factor in the problem. End side note.* But I feel like I'm where I need to be at the moment. Who knew I'd ever need to be in Riverton, UT?

I could go on with every tiny, seemingly insignificant accomplishment in my life to date, but that would take up WAY too much time, space and effort. I guess the point I'm trying to get across is that blessings and things to be proud of and grateful for are always there, no matter how small. Just looking at the three listed "accomplishments" make me feel like my life hasn't been such a waste after all. :)

Here goes...

Well, since I haven't posted anything really useful on my blog since 2008, I'ma just dive right in with brief updates of what's been happening since then.

In 2009:

• I had my penultimate and ultimate semesters at LDS Business College (for those of you who don't know, I got my Associate's Degree in General Studies in December of 2009.) During those semesters, I had myself a joyous little time. (See the following bullets.)
• I participated in the Saturday afternoon session of General Conference in April of 2009. I am on the second row, second person in from the right in the middle section, wearing a dark blue shirt. You'll see me. ;)
• I thought I was going to graduate in April, but didn't. (Although... I commenced in April, and sang a duet with my friend, Marisha, for the ceremonies.)
• I was in a production of Savior of the World (it was a multi-stake performance.) My friend, Katherine Voge, and I were in it together. We were some of Mary's cousins. It was a great experience.

From left to right: Casey Koldewyn, Katherine Voge (back in pink), MaryAnne Luker (front in green), Tali Marsh, Chelsea Bastian, Sarah Goaslind, Jessica McKnight.

• I moved out of Mom and Dad's house and got myself a tiny little apartment in Bountiful with Marisha (the one I sang at graduation with.)
• During the summer semester break, the family and I went to Mt. Rushmore.

• In September, I bought myself a CAR!!! A cute, silver 2003 Hyundai Accent that I christened "Minnie." I love that little car. :)
• In October, I went to Frightmares for the first time with some friends. WAY fun!
• I was Giselle from Enchanted for Halloween.

From left to right: (Rob Owens as Jack Sparrow in the background) MaryAnne Luker (Giselle), Daryl Embley (Anastasia), Ingrid Veliz (Snow White), Leah Tsiame (Whoopi Goldberg)

• Grandpa Luker passed away on November 2nd, 2009.

From left to right: Sarah Nicholls, Elizabeth Ellis, Christine Luker, Emma McNeal, MaryAnne Luker, Rachel Atkin

• Sydney Tittle, Katherine Voge, Effie Auga and myself formed a ladies quartet ("The Harmony Sisters") and ROCKED THE SOCKS!!! We performed for several devotionals, President Richards (president of LDSBC), and our choir's Christmas concert. No foolin', we were cool.

From left to right: Effie Auga (awesome Alto 2), Katherine Voge (Melody Soprano/ Alto 2), MaryAnne Luker (some weird person who sang Alto 1/ Soprano 2), Sydney Tittle (Stratosphere Singer/ Little Miss High C.)

• After LDSBC, I was briefly in a relationship with Robert Owens, although that is over and done with for now. He's a good guy.

I went to the spectacular Tabernacle Choir Christmas Concert and also got pictures of the Christmas lights...

• I am now currently unemployed, and looking for a job. :(
• I auditioned for the Bells on Temple Square! I have yet to find out whether I got in or not. Hopefully for now I can just continue to attend the workshops so that I can become a bell-ringing expoit! Er, expert.

Anyways, these are just a few of my exploits throughout 2009. Hopefully I will be able to keep up with 2010 as it comes!