Bouquets

Apparently I'm a magnet for wedding bouquets. Within the past four months, I have attended two wedding receptions and caught the bride's bouquet at BOTH receptions. That brings my total up to three.


Bouquet #1: April 28, 2006. This bouquet was caught at my sister Rachel's wedding reception. I specifically remember being in the kitchen at the church (making myself another chicken sandwich) when they announced that the bouquet was about to be tossed. Not particularly wanting to catch said bouquet, I stayed where I was until Rachel (not my mother or any of my other sisters, mind you, but the actual bride herself) informed me that I was to come NOW to try and catch the bouquet. Abandoning my chicken sandwich, I grudgingly obliged.


Showtime. I was situated in the far back left-hand corner of the formation of single ladies who had congregated in hopes of catching the bouquet. The excitement may have been killing some of them; I wouldn't know, because I was rather bored with the situation and wished I was back in the kitchen with my chicken sandwich. (You can tell what my priorities were back at the time.) The bouquet, once tossed, flew into a high arc to the left, well out of the way of anyone's reach... except, of course, for mine. I remember thinking to myself as I made a dive for the bouquet, "I don't want it to land on the floor because then the beautiful flowers will be smashed all over the place." I smoothly snagged the bouquet out of the air before it could make contact with the floor. It felt pretty spectacular, if I do say so myself; like some sort of Quidditch Seeker catch. (Yes, I'm a nerd.)


Then reality hit me. I had caught the bouquet. The bouquet that symbolized "next in line for marriage." Uh-oh. I turned guiltily towards my mother who, upon hearing the news of my triumphant save of the bouquet from certain destruction, stomped her foot on the ground and let out an anguished cry of "NO!!!" My dear mother, bless her heart, had just helped plan two weddings (my brother's and now my sister's) within three months, and I don't blame her for having had it with weddings for a while. After calmly reassuring her that I was only sixteen and that I most emphatically WOULD NOT be getting married any time soon, she calmed down and that was the end of that.


Or so I thought.


Bouquet #2: March 19, 2011. Five years had passed since the unexpected and rather unwelcome catching of my sister's bouquet, and I found myself, now a marriageable age, at another wedding reception, this time for my dear friend Katherine (of The Harmony Sisters).  I had helped plan this wedding reception, and I was feeling pretty good about things; the wedding cake (which I had helped decorate) looked immaculate, the flowers (which I had helped order) were superb, the food (which I was in charge of serving that evening) was delicious, and I was wearing a new Flirty Apron (which matched the bride's wedding colors) to seal the deal. Yes, I was feeling pretty good.


Then the bouquet toss was announced. I had every intention of standing quietly on the sidelines during the event and letting other people have a chance at the glory. But, much to my consternation, my friend Sydney (also of The Harmony Sisters), was somehow able to pressure me into going with her to catch the bouquet. So I found myself, once again, waiting for a bouquet that I didn't particularly want to catch.


As I was standing there waiting for the event to begin, I noticed the similarities between this situation and the last time I had caught a bouquet. I was again standing in the back left-hand corner (I figured the back was the safest because there were half a dozen eager, taller women in front of me who would most likely deflect any bouquets coming in my direction), and my inclination to catch the bouquet was strikingly similar to what it had been the last time.


So I shouldn't have been surprised, really, when the bouquet went flying in a high arc to the left and I found myself running to catch it before it hit the floor. And then it was in my hands (very smoothly, I might add) and everyone was cheering. Well, everyone except for Sydney, who was jokingly saying, "Aw! I wanted to catch the bouquet, MaryAnne!" Katherine, and all my other friends who were there, were eyeing me significantly as if to say, "Well, well, well! You know what this means... now it's YOUR turn to get married." "Good grief!" I thought to myself as my friends were both subtly and blatantly giving me hints. "In order to get married I'd need to find a man first, and goodness knows THAT isn't going to happen anytime soon." 


Famous last words, folks. This leads to....


Bouquet #3: July 8, 2011. This bouquet requires a little bit of back story:


Shortly before Katherine's wedding (where the infamous Bouquet #2 was caught), I got a new job as a receptionist for the Information and Communication Services department of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (located in Riverton, UT.) Let me tell ya... LOTS of men roaming around. But since most of them were older men and already married (and the rest of them fell under the category of "computer guys..." need I say more?), I wasn't really looking too hard for any particular someone.


One day, however, about two weeks before Katherine's wedding, a very pleasant young man named Taylor (last name specifically avoided to protect the innocent) introduced himself to me, and I recognized in him a kindred spirit (he'd also attended LDS Business College), so I knew we'd at least be friends. :)


Well, let me just say that I think Bouquet #2 possessed magical qualities because in the week following Katherine's wedding, I was asked out on a date by said pleasant young man, Taylor. (I know some of you are thinking, "What does this have to do with Bouquet #3???" Hang in there, folks. I'm getting there...) And then after the first date, I was asked on another. And another. And then another. :) I think you all know where this is going, so I'll just cut to the chase and say that Taylor and I decided that we liked each other enough to form a more permanent relationship.  (That completely sounds like we got married or something, but that's not the case. As it stands, we are still only dating.)


ANYWAY...... Because Taylor and I were attached to each other, I had the pleasure of attending his cousin's wedding reception with him (I TOLD you I'd get there). Now, I didn't know anyone at the reception (except for Taylor, his parents and his two sisters), so I wasn't planning on participating in any of the activities. I was content to sit back and look pretty watch what was going on. That is, until Taylor's sisters asked me politely if I would go with them to catch the bouquet. 


My first inclination was to say, "Nah, you ladies go on; I'll watch you from here," but it felt nice to be included and I was in rather a compliant mood that evening, so I cheerfully agreed to join them. (If left to my own devices, I probably would have stayed where I was, but I found that I was rather enjoying myself, so it's not like I was being dragged out to my death or anything.)


In the lineup of single ladies (and yes, they WERE playing Beyoncé's "Single Ladies" during this event), I was on the front row in between Taylor's two sisters. The Younger Sister was to my immediate right, and the Older Sister was to my left, with a young girl (maybe ten years old) right in between us. There was also a toddler-aged girl roaming around in front of me, so I was hesitant to do any running and diving for the bouquet.


Blastoff time, and the bouquet left the bride's hands and literally flew right at me. There was no running or diving for this bouquet. All I can say is that it jumped into my hands and took me very much by surprise. You know, come to think of it, if the young girl next to me hadn't run in front of me to reach up and catch it, THEN I may have had to dive for it (and it's also highly possible that the Younger Sister might have caught it in that instance), but as it was, it bounced off the young girl's hands and right into mine. 


At first, I tried to hand off the bouquet to the young girl (she'd touched it first, after all, so it should be hers, I reasoned), but she ran away before I had a chance to ask her if she wanted it. So I was stuck with the bouquet. The bouquet that symbolized.... well, we've already been over that. Did my face turn red as people (namely: Taylor's family, who knew the stories of my previous run-ins with wedding bouquets) started cheering? (And laughing, in the case of Taylor's family.) Yes. Was I even more embarrassed when the wedding photographer beckoned me over to get a picture with the bride, who I didn't know from Adam? (Or would that be Eve in my case?) Of course. But did I enjoy myself immensely in the process? Absolutely. :)


Watch out, ladies. I got skills. 

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. :)

Race for the Cure

As many of you know, I have signed up to participate in the annual Susan G. Comen Race for the Cure, which will take place this coming Saturday morning. At this moment, I'm not entirely sure why I'm still planning to go through with this, but here is my story, as taken from my Personal Susan G. Komen Page. 

Until just recently I had never, EVER considered participating in the Race for the Cure; I'm not a very athletic person, and I was neutral about getting involved in "the fight against breast cancer" movement. In fact, if you had told me even three months ago that I would be registering for the Race for the Cure, I would have scoffed and said something witty like, "Yeah, right!"

But then I actually met someone who was fighting breast cancer. She inspired me, in her own way, to do something. 

I started a new job in February 2011 as a part-time receptionist for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; I was to be covering the afternoon shift. On my first day on the job, I learned that my co-worker, the morning receptionist (who shall remain anonymous), had recently been diagnosed with breast cancer. I could tell that she was still nervous and in shock about the news, and that she was reluctant to tell anyone about it because telling people would make it more real and there'd be no end to "Oh, I'm so sorry!" and "Is there anything I can do to help?" (Which is great, don't get me wrong, but sometimes what some people need is to be left alone for a while.)

What really struck me, though, was the fact that I barely even knew this woman, and yet I was one of the few chosen to know about her condition. She trusted me enough with the "secret," and that made me feel closer to her and to realize that I would do whatever I could to support her in my own quiet, almost secret, way. 

 A month or so went by, and I watched as my co-worker continued to try and live a normal life while struggling to fight the disease. I was amazed; she was so cheerful and hopeful (although there were times when I could tell she was weary and just needed to stop), and she made it look so easy. In fact, the only indication I had (most times) that she wasn't feeling well was the fact that I would get called in to cover her shift occasionally. I did so gladly. (Honestly, I have never been more cheerful and willing to wake up before the crack of dawn and drive a good twenty-five miles to get to work by 7:30 AM.)

Eventually, though, my co-worker had to leave her position in order to recover from the treatments she was undergoing. I decided that if she could be in so much pain or discomfort and yet still come to work every day, then I could do something, too. I decided to Race for the Cure. Now, she doesn't know that I'm doing this in her honor; I never told her about my plan, and I'm pretty sure that I never will. Since she's not at work anymore and I only knew her for about a month, I quite literally may never see her again, but hopefully my efforts will help her (and others) in some way. 

I've been asking others to please join me in supporting those who need help. I will accept monetary contributions, but I actually think the most significant donations I could receive are morale and motivation. :)

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. :)

Observation

Hm. It's been so long since I've posted that I don't think anyone checks my blog anymore. :( Nobody loves me.


Tee hee. Just kidding. ;)


Although I must offer this as some kind of justification for my lack of posts during the year of 2009: I'd forgotten how much I don't like Blogger. I dunno, it's just something about the format that I don't like. When I try to post pictures, the preview and compose views are always different from the actual result. MAJOR dislike.

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!

Let's get back to bloggin'!

Ho-ly COW. It's been pretty much forever since I decided to update my blog.

I have decided (and I don't know how well I'm going to do with this resolution I've made) to be more consistent with updating my blog. I figured that since I don't have a hard-copy journal anymore, I may as well have some other source of, um, remembering. So, blogging it is!

I am also going to try and get better about posting pictures. Ooo, I can make it, like, a PHOTO journal or something! Yeah, yeah! That's cool, right? Which means that I will have to actually TAKE pictures. That is also another resolution that I don't know how well I will follow through with...... heh, heh-heh HEH-heh, yeah.

Anyways, HI EVERYBODY!!!! I'M BACK!!