Being an example- especially when you don't even know it!

Each and every fall season for the last four years, I have been fortunate enough to referee high school girl's lacrosse Super Sevens for my old coaches Fish and Soni (Taylor) Bartlett. It's a great way to get exercise in and make some extra $money$, especially while I was getting through college (You know.. all those crazy jobs you have in college just trying to get by!)

Some weeks I absolutely loved reffing. The girls would be so nice and cute and I got to teach them how to be better players and help them learn new moves like how to have a better cradle and how to play bottom-hand defense. Other weeks, I hated reffing. The parents would yell at me on the field and tell me all the calls I missed (Even though I've been playing for NINE years compared to their being a fan for one or two... Have you even READ the rule book??) and how awful I was. This made me really sad because for each game, I really did try my best to be fair and make the right calls. It really brought me down and was extremely frustrating.

At the end of the last game this season, there was an envelope labeled "Nancy" sitting on the score table. I thought it was probably just a check for reffing and put it in my pocket. When I got home, I pulled it out and opened it. Inside was a full-page, handwritten letter, cute sparkly "N" keychain, and a Subway gift card.

This was a thank you letter/present from one of the girls I had reffed. She started playing the first year as a freshman so she was one of the few that had been there all along with me the last four years. Paraphrasing, she wrote:

"I wanted to thank you for everything you've done for me the last four years. You have no idea what a great example you've been for me as a lacrosse player and friend and when I grow up I hope to be just like you. Love, Lacey #14"

As you can imagine with my sensitive little tear ducts, I started crying. How CUTE is this girl??! Mostly I was emotional thinking about how I never even thought of someone watching my actions. I thought about how I was dreading and even hating having to go some weeks. Did my attitude bring others down? Was she watching to see how I 'reacted' to the world at those times?

We never know when someone is watching us, looking to us as an example. Don't you think i would have acted differently if I knew each week this girl looked up to me as a role model? It is our responsibility to help others and lift people up. It's the sure way to happiness.

I'll be forever grateful to Lacey and HER example to me and for helping me to have this little "a-ha moment."

Be an example- always. You never know when someone is watching you and your decisions.

p.s. I can't forget to mention that I am grateful too for this Super Sevens because through this I got to meet Smallz and Shalece Hansen who are awesome and I love them. I made some eternal friends with this lacrosse business. :)

My calling as a Sunday School teacher

Trina told me to post more soooooo here it is!

Jonathon and I are on our second round of teaching the 12-14 year old Sunday School class at our church. We absolutely love this calling and those kids. I am so impressed by their innocence and desire to be good. Even the trouble-makers and loud-mouths say things that make me smile and teach me wonderful lessons.

Today we taught a lesson on Immorality and it made me sad thinking about them ever having to go through a tough time or falling into that kind of sin. ANY sin, but especially that one because it is such a powerful thing that can be used in both bad and good ways. I just want them to stay young and not have to go through those hard experiences that cause so much sadness. I want them to make good choices and be successful in life. I know, I know "Just wait until you have kids!" and I know with my own kids it'll be ten times harder. Luckily, we get some "practice rounds" through callings!

Heavenly Father really does know what is best for us and He wants us to be happy. We need to have a stronger desire to follow Him and be better so we can be examples to others and help lift them up.

Random

I've been wanting to post for a long time but can always find a million reasons not to. Mostly I'm too lazy to make it look all cute and clever like most people. Sigh. Thus, this may be one boring post, but who the heck cares!

Here are my random thoughts at this very moment:

1. I love Jonathon. He is my best friend and we love laughing and having so much fun together. It's just easy to be around him and with him and he helps me to be happy in many ways including:

-listening to me ramble and just talk about nothing, makes me feel smart and pretty, always lets me know he loves me, works hard to get us some extra income, he helps me understand the Gospel better, helps me be a better person by encouraging me, he's SO funny!!, makes cute songs and loves to sing, and loves to make other people happy by being nice to them too! I just love him. Alls the time.

2. Cosmo just scratched his ear with his foot and it made the same "thump-thump-thump" sound Thumper from Bambi makes when he scratched his ear.

3. I'm trying out Latisse to help my eyelashes grow all thick and lush so I don't feel the need to put on make-up every morning. I will keep you updated on results.

4. I love being a dental hygienist. I go home so happy at the end of the day because I love my patients. Here is a cool story of one of them:

I saw a patient on Tuesday who had no use of her hands because her mother took some sort of stomach medication while pregnant and caused this deformity. However, this woman had nearly PERFECTLY healthy gums and very little build-up! She uses her feet and teeth to do EVERYTHING for her. And she flosses 2x day using floss sticks and brushes with an electric toothbrush. I was amazed. What an awesome woman. This means there is absolutely no reason in the world that everyone else doesn't floss everyday too!

5. I love hot showers. My mom's house runs out of hot water fast though so I can't ever fully enjoy it. :(

6. Does anyone know how to get rid of sideaches while running?

7. I'm running a marathon next year. - Grandpa Huckvale had a stroke a few months back and does not have use of his right side so he can't walk and talk right now. He made a goal to be walking and talking by July for our family reunion. We decided that we'd all make a goal of something to accomplish by July by the time the family reunion comes and we'll all talk about our experiences. I made three goals:

1) Run a marathon.

2) Read the Book of Mormon.

3) Pay off my student loans.

This takes lots of effort NOW to accomplish these things by THEN so I'm working tough and learning lots along the way. :)

8. I love fresh apple cider. Our home teacher brought us some that is non-pasteurized and only happens one month of the year. It's amazing.

9. I am officially licensed to practice dental hygiene in Oregon and passed the Oregon Jurisprudence exam FINALLY! Wahoo!

10. It feels like nearly every one of my girl friends is pregnant right now. Crazy!

11. I am not good at baking. Or cooking. But, I enjoy it while I'm making it so...... oh well. Maybe someday!

I think that is all for now. I'm going to drive Jonathon downtown to my dental office to have Dr. Ellis pull his last wisdom tooth. It's going to be nice for him to not be in pain anymore!

Bye!