"Whatever happens, the Lord is in it..."

This quote came from the movie "Joseph Smith, Prophet of the Restoration" and it was said by Hyrum Smith when he and the Prophet Joseph Smith were preparing to go to Carthage. I've been saying this quote over and over in my mind because of some sad happenings in my life as of late.

My mother's been sick with cancer since last fall when I was preparing to move to Coralville. The only reason I didn't say anything on this blog was out of respect for her privacy, but now there's nothing left to lose.

The doctors have said that it's terminal now, but they didn't give her a timetable on how long she has left. For now, she's staying with me in Coralville so she can get to her treatments (she can't drive anymore so my roommate takes her.).

When I was told about the cancer getting worse earlier this summer, I was beginning my preparations for returning to college to work on my bachelor's degree. I had confided in a friend from the Nauvoo pageant about Mom because he'd met her before and I'd also confided the fears that she wouldn't live to see me get my degree. He said, "If you work hard in getting your education, the Lord will take care of your mother." This was definitely NOT what I had in mind!

I'm trying to be strong for her, but it's hard. Sometimes it hits me and I just want to cry and rage. I feel like I'm being cheated out of things that a daughter should have with her mom; like having Mom there waiting for me to come out of the temple after being married to my future eternal companion; or having Mom there when I have my first baby. My future spouse is being cheated out of his mother-in-law, and my future children are being cheated out of having their grandma here to play with them.

My "sister" Melissa has been telling me as of late that the Lord's ways are higher than our ways, and in His wisdom, all will be made right in time. I don't know how that can be. I guess it's time to start practicing some faith, and believe that "Whatever happens, the Lord is in it."

Slan go foill...

New developments in my life...

Well, there's a lot that's been happening...

For one thing...I got a promotion at work! I'm now a Telephone Account Manager for Office Depot. It means I only call a certain territory of customers once a month and check on them; see if they need any supplies and such.

Update # 2...I'm going back to college! Yep, that's right, my faithful readers. Three years after attending MCC, I'm going back to school. I'll be going to Kaplan University, majoring in Business Administration. I'll be working on my bachelor's degree.

Update # 3...I've made a decision, and I'm going to stick to it this time. I'm going out for the Nauvoo Pageant next year. I checked with my academic advisor about it, and she said that I could take a summer term off to do it. Besides, a friend in the core cast (and you know who you are!!!!) has been wanting me to do it since 2005 when the pageant started. And after what happened last summer with Lucky Stiff, I think it's time for me to do a drama production with other LDS peeps.

That, my friends, is what's going on with me lately.

Slan go foill...

I have survived...

It's official: I have survived training!

Tomorrow will be the big test, and my first FULL day on the phones at work. I'm a little nervous and am hoping that I'll be a little more comfortable with the call flow. I think after three days away from work and totally resting up, I should be fine.

I like my new co-workers, and am hoping to be a light and example to them. Perhaps things at TMone will be better than they were at TLCA. The environment's ten x better by far, but I think we're still in the honeymoon stage. I shall wait and see what happens.

Slan go foill...

Made a change...

I made a big change in my life. And that was in the job department.

That's right, my faithful readers; I'm no longer working at Thomas L. Cardella & Associates. Because of the fact that the schedule changed too much and there was always the chance I could be forced to work Sundays again, I decided to make a change. It happened very fast; and I didn't really have a chance to say goodbye properly.

I'm now working at TMone in Iowa City. It's basically the same kind of job, only it's outbound and it's a Mon-Fri gig from 8-5. It's perfect. Right now I'm still training, but I'm doing well, being a sponge and soaking up as much information as I can. I want to be a good Inside Sales Rep, and not let my bosses down.

Slan go foill...

Loss...and lots of funny memories

I know it's silly as heck, because she was an animal, but it doesn't matter. She drove me nuts, nipping at my ankles and feet and was underfoot a lot when I lived at home in Muscatine, and I haven't seen her since Christmas, but I'm gonna miss her.

I'm talking about the family cat, Athena. She died sometime either last night or this morning at home. She was sixteen, which translates to 96 in cat years.

I was sixteen years old when my brother, Dan, got her and her brother Aires from a litter of kittens that a family friend had. Aires died back in 2003 right after Christmas. But I digress...

Dan was a huge cat person, so he liked having the kittens around. They were pretty darn rambunctious back then, jumping on people and scratching my legs (and pantyhose) before getting de-clawed. I remember seeing them lay down at both ends of my nephew (he was a newborn at the time), acting like they were his guard kitties.

A couple of years later, I was getting ready to start college and one of my friends was dating my brother at the time and hanging out at the house a lot (to the point where she was leaving things there). Athena would go up to my brother's room and bring down pairs of socks my friend would leave up there, carrying them in her mouth. We used to joke that she was a jealous kitty and trying to kick my bro's girlfriends out of the house.

I also remember seeing my oldest nephew get batted by Athena's paws every time he'd walk by where she was sprawled on the floor, and he'd always say, "Don't, kitty!" It took him some time to learn how to say her name.

I'm feeling sad, because this is another reminder that things change and don't stay the same. When I go home to Muscatine to visit, Athena won't be there, running to the door to greet me. I won't hear her meowing, and try to meow back at her. Yeah, she was a pain (especially when I tried to keep her from getting cat hair all over my outfit for my date last year and keep her from nipping at said date's ankles), but she was a part of the family, and I am going to miss her. *snif*

Slan go foill...

25 Things of Randomness

I actually did this back in December on Facebook and forgot about putting it here. Better late than never, I suppose...

1. I'm a huge fan of Anuna, an Irish choral group.

2. I'm a convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

3. As of late, I've been selling fashions for J.Crew.

4. I recently moved out of my parents' house to take a job in Coralville.

5. I love going to Erin Feis in Rock Island every September.

6. While I haven't found my eternal companion, I recently got back into the dating scene, sort of.

7. I love singing along with my CDs.

8. I recently got an MP3 player.

9. I miss seeing my parents every day.

10. I was hoping to be in the Nauvoo Pageant next summer, but now work is going to make that impossible.

11. I'm hoping to take a couple Institute of Religion classes this semester.

12. I'm an avid reader. Just ask my mom and roommate.

13. I love going to my best friend's orchestra concerts.

14. I've seen Riverdance three times.

15. I love the Irish band The Chieftains.

16. I'm learning how to speak Spanish.

17. I can say a few Irish Gaelic phrases.

18. I love Celtic Woman.

19. I took to the musical theatre stage for the last time this past summer.

20. I love hanging out with my other best friend; she's like a sister to me.

21. My testimony has grown since I've moved out on my own.

22. I have two older brothers, Dan and Dave.

23. I want to go to Ireland someday.

24. I've been to Mexico, Canada, and London, England.

25. I'm hoping to find a voice teacher and start taking voice lessons again.

Shining Water by Anuna

In all my time of having this blog, I'm surprised I haven't mentioned this Irish choir very much. They're my favorite group of all time (right up there with The Moody Blues). Here's one of their vids off of YouTube. I love this song. Enjoy!