Human. Kind.

I don't blog about my job for various reasons.

A. It's not very interesting.

B. I try to leave work at work.

C. Work is not meant for this little corner of my world.

However, the other day I had an experience at work that left somewhat of an impression on my heart.

A little background: I work in the product store for a locally based MLM(that's a multi-level marketing company, for you newbs). I deal with people from all walks of life. From the hippie tree hugger to the beauty queens of Northern Utah. Every day is a new adventure.

Last week, we had a particularly snarky crowd come through our product store.

People who sometimes forget that we little worker bees are humans too.

Humans with slow fingers, tired brains, and fatigued bodies.

I called for the next customer in line and a very small woman came forward.

She was donning a "Hot n' Ready" t-shirt from Little Caesar's.

"I talked to the bank and they said my card has enough money on it."

"Okay." I tried really hard to smile sensing that this woman had some sort of disability.

I ran her card for her small purchase and proceeded to pull her order.

I was halfway across the product store when she yelled across "My neighbor has lupus. I'm going to sign her up so I can help her with her lupus."

"Oh that is so great." I tried to feign excitement.

"Are you proud of me?" she asked sincerely.

My answer was lodged in my throat as I tried to choke back tears.

"Yes. I'm very proud of you."

Sometimes I am lost in my own little world of worries and troubles.

I was grateful for this reminder that we are all fighting our own battles and it is oh so important to let those we come into contact that we are so proud of their effort.

If no one else has told you so today, know that I am proud of you for fighting whatever battle you fight.

xo

Called

On Friday my family drove to Utah county with a big white envelope from the Church headquarters.

I was not nervous about the next 18 months of my life until I saw it.

I worried about a lot of things once it was in my hands like:

-what if I couldn't do this?

-what if I couldn't adapt to the culture/food/people?

-what if's

I even joked about driving to the church office in Salt Lake handing them my envelope and saying "Changed my mind."

But surrounded by the most important people to me (some via cell phone) I opened my mission call and read the following words:

"Dear Sister Perkins: You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint. You are assigned to labor in the Canada Montreal Mission. You will prepare to preach the gospel in the Spanish language."

With those few words I became all sorts of emotion.

Mostly shock.

Then came joy.

Then absolute gratitude.

I can't possibly explain how but I already feel a love for those people in the Montreal.

I can think of no other explanation than that of the love of Christ which stems from His Gospel.

I am so grateful for the testimony I have of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that the atonement is real. I know that Joseph Smith saw the Father and the Son and that he restored the true and living gospel. I know that man will know no great joy than coming unto the Savior.

And that is what I plan to share with the people of Montreal.

xo

FHE Mama

I have a pretty good track record of not attending FHE since I've moved away from home.

If you are unfamiliar with FHE, it stands for Family Home Evening.

FHE is held on Monday nights and it's a time for families in our church to spend together.

College wards, like the one I attend, have little FHE groups and I was lucky enough to land a calling as an FHE mom.

I know this is karma paying me back for the past 3 years of avoidant behavior.

Tonight was my first go at being an FHE mom.

Lucky for me I was paired with another FHE mom and we decided to play games and she volunteered to bring a watermelon.

* it should be noted that I had a dream last night that I learned how to carve watermelons like you would carve a pumpkin at Halloween. So you can imagine my excitement?

We did the usual

.Prayer, spiritual thought, etc.

Once I had sufficiently dominated everyone in Mad Gab we decided to slice the watermelon open.

I'm not going to lie I was pretty excited.

I. Love. Watermelon.

My dear roommates began slicing the beast open and like opening flood gates the watermelon spewed water all over our counter top.

Then we split the beast open and the insides reminded me of the turkey on Christmas Vacation. See image below.

It was sad indeed.

I had to send all of my little FHE children home without watermelon.

Luckily, one of the children made this wonderful watermelon carving.

See image below.

Behold! The waterbeast!

xo

P.s. I am still craving watermelon.

Decision.

I have been wrestling with two really big "somethings" for a few weeks now.

Both somethings could make me very happy.

I think that's the hardest part.

If I at least knew which "best" was a little less best I wouldn't be in this pickle.

Maybe I should flip a coin? kidding!

Happy Monday!

xo

P.s. I realize the squirrel has nothing to do with this post, but isn't it funny? He reminds me of someone I know....but who?

Because who is really "over" the royal wedding?

Precious.

xo

On my iPod lately: April Smith

I hope that brought a smile to your face.

x0

Pick-up lines

A couple of days ago I was waiting for my finance class to start.

Generally, I use this time to check my email on my phone (I entered the 21st century about three months ago).

I was sitting there browsing through junk email (urban, anthro, gap, etc.) and out of nowhere this boy gets down on his hands and knees and sticks his head under the chair next to mine.

"Oh sorry. I'm looking for my phone."

"Um. Okay."

At this point he looks under a couple of other chairs next to mine.

"Do you think you could call it?"

"Sure. What's your number?"

"XXX-XXX-XXXX"

It rang, and rang, and rang.

No luck.

"Well, thanks anyway."

"Um yeah."

As he walked away I realized that was some really good acting.

xo