Routine

Man. I've been out of it.

My routine is off.

I somehow am forgetting to wash my face every morning. (Ugh. My skin.)

I somehow am forgetting to take my meds in the morning. (Ugh. My body and brain.)

I somehow am forgetting my babes ballet, swim,  heck even preschool classes. (Ugh. My poor babes.)

I somehow have not been able to get back into a good schedule of working out. (Ugh. My body.)

Man. I need routine. Like bad.

But, I'll focus on the positive.

Without routine, there are some better things I've been able to do. Focus on others, not myself. Show kindness, be a good example for my babes to love everyone, no matter their struggles or status in life. Check in on my friends and family, offer support and encouragement. Take meals over, hold sweet babies, walk dogs, laugh with, cry with, listen to, and love.

So... whatever. Screw my routine. Who needs good skin and a fit body? It will all work out, with or without a routine.

Good at Picking

I don't really want to toot my own horn, but man oh man. I am a really good picker.

Good at picking my Sugar.
Good at picking out cute clothes and shoes, not just for me but for my whole family.
Good at picking activities for my babes.

Recently, I've become good at picking fruit. 

And good at picking friends who invite me to pick fruit. 

But I'll just toot my own horn anyway. I'm really good at picking. So is Jocy. 

A Whole Month

This call came to me over a month ago.

And I've been sitting on it. Festering over it. Talking myself out of it. Crying over it. Depressed about it.

And there was no one I could really talk to about it.

I felt overwhelmed and inadequate. Unqualified and lacking spirituality, emotionally, wholeheartedly. 

I was not right for this job.

And I prayed. I prayed for understanding as to why my name was selected. I prayed for comfort. I prayed for guidance. I prayed. And I would feel better. For a time.

And then the doubt, fear, and anxiety would creep in, slowly at times. Sometimes like a wave crashing into me.

It was crazy how fast Satan worked on me during that month.

I reached out to my past Relief Society presidents. Women I love, cherish, and have always admired.

These women are the elite. The best of the best. Women I want to be when I grow up. Ha! (Is it bad that I still think of myself as a young, extremely wise teenager with 3 babes and a cute sugar?)

And they had such comforting words of encouragement and belief in me. Belief that I will be able to help so many in our ward because of my ability to listen to the spirit. They didn't sugar coat anything, because it's a really tough call to hold. But they spoke of the blessings they had while serving, the changes they witnessed in themselves and others, and the love they had for the sisters in their ward while serving. They put me at ease. I felt peace because of their kind words.

And then the night before we were supposed to be officially sustained, that peace was gone. I was not able to sleep. I was back to feeling overwhelmed and inadequate. Unqualified and lacking spirituality, emotionally, wholeheartedly. 

We walked into church late, because 9 am church, come on... it's just impossible for us to be on time no matter what time we seem to set out clocks to.

Just 5 minutes or so late, but late enough to miss opening prayer and song. However, we were right in time for the bishop to release the previous amazing presidency and then read our names aloud.

As he did that, it was weird. I knew he was going to ask me to bear my freaking testimony, and I felt that sweet peace again. The peace I had been praying for all night the night before. I was still super overwhelmed and inadequate. Super unqualified and lacking spirituality, emotionally, wholeheartedly. But, there was a difference. I could feel the support of all of those faces in the room. I could feel their love almost instantly. More importantly, I could feel the love of my Heavenly Father. It was powerful.

I bore my testimony. Not sure of anything at all that I was saying. Expecting it to be a hot mess. But when I asked my Sugar later that night, he said it was the most clear testimony he has heard me share in a long time. (So, that was a nice backwards compliment. Thanks dear.)

The best thing of all from that sacrament meeting came after wards.

I had so many past Relief Society presidents come up and hug me, love me, offer their congratulations and support. They assured me that they too had felt the same things I had, and that it was normal. (Knowing for as long as I had, was not normal... but the feelings were.)They too had no idea what they were doing, but they learned to really listen to the spirit. They told me to delegate, pray, go to the temple, read my scriptures, (you know the basic church answers) and do what I am good at... love the sisters of this ward.

A whole month I knew this was coming. Maybe even over a month, now that I really think about it.

And in just 1 week after, I can already see the changes it is making in the lives of my family and myself. I want to be a better mother, wife, daughter, sister, friend, and a true example of Jesus Christ's love for us all. 

Here is hoping I don't screw this ward up. Good thing I have an amazing presidency that won't let that happen. Beyond thankful for them, this call, the sweet sisters of this ward, and the love and trust my Heavenly Father has for me!

Fiesta

I took 4 years of high school Spanish.

My freshman year I was probably one of 10 students that my teacher did not violently hate. She was a real gem. Ahhhh, Mrs. Colmena.

My sophomore and junior year I competed in some weird Spanish academic competition. I think we won. I don't freaking remember. I still am not sure how I agreed to join this, but I think I thought it would help my chances of getting into a good college later.

My senior year I took Spanish Honors. And at the end of the year I felt like I had a pretty firm grasp on the language.

I took 1 semester of college level Spanish.

¡Ay dios mio!

I quickly found out that all 4 years of high school curriculum was covered in the first month of this course and it rocked my world.

So, I quit Spanish. I figured I already got into college and I can get by just fine if I ever I need to vacation there.

Or...

My Spanish would be good enough to possibly throw a baby shower for some sweet friends with a "Mexican Fiesta" theme.

I'd like to say that I didn't have to ask for help in properly phrasing certain things for the party, but that would be la mentira. Thanks Bojorquez!

I guess I should have at least taken a second semester of college level Spanish.

Carne asada & green chili chicken street tacos, flautas, taquitos, 7 layer bean dip, guacamole, veggie platters, fruit platters, salsa, jarritos, and mango mom-aritas

And the one and only Nothing Bundt Cake

Love these ladies! 

A Love for Robin Hood

There was a patch of tall, green forest-like trees in the brown desert I grew up in.

This patch of trees was not more than a block long (just off the I-15 South, Charleston exit ramp), and has since been cut down for some time. 

But as a little girl, my mom would drive along this road on her way to work, or my babysitters, or the park, (I can't remember exactly where and neither can she). 

I was around the age of 4 or 5 and as we would drive through this "Forest," and I would pretend I was Maid Marian looking for Robin Hood. It was my favorite movie and Little John was my absolute favorite. Especially because he sounded like Baloo from my 2nd favorite movie at that time, The Jungle Book. 

My mom would say as she drove, "There he is. Look right there. I see him. Do you?" She was so good at spotting Robin Hood and Little John hiding in the trees, and I knew she really did see them. Of course she did, because why would a mom lie to her little child?  Ha! 

I always loved that drive and those beautiful trees. They made me smile. They made me feel like I was in a movie. They made me feel like I had escaped to Sherwood Forest, with the handsome Robin Hood, while I was the beautiful Maid Marian. I always loved those trees. 

I think of that special memory often with my babe as we explore park after park, trail after trail, in our new state. Pretty crazy that we now live in a place full of tall, green, actual forest trees, much different from the brown desert she and I were both born in. 

Sometimes I think I might even spot him. Man, I loved Robin Hood. 

Callings

In this church, this church I go to, this church I'm a member of, this church called The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, we have callings.

A calling is an job/assignment, if you will, that you are responsible for fulfilling. You do it to serve the members of your ward and you do it the the best of your ability.

I've had a bunch of callings in my adulthood. Primary teacher, Primary secretary, Primary 1st counselor, Primary 2nd counselor, Primary president, Young Women's leader, Young Women's counselor, Compassionate Service Coordinator, Sunday School Teacher for the youth, and that's all I can remember at the moment.

But right now, I'm not in any of these callings.

I'm in 2 different callings that I've never had before and I'm so thankful for them both at this stage in my life.

1st - Relief Society Activities Planning Committee 

If you couldn't tell from all of my previous calls, I've never really got to spend a lot of time with women. I've worked a lot with youth, and I've loved every second. Well... almost every second. But now, I get to spend my Sundays sitting in Sunday School next to my Sugar and in Relief Society being enriched and focus on the testimonies of some amazing women, that help strengthen mine.

My calling is not a demanding calling on Sundays and I love that.

But what I love most, is getting to help plan activities for these women. Activities where we can gather together as sisters enjoying each others company, ministering to one another, building them up in whatever way they need, be it spiritual or emotional, and eating a cookie or two while doing it.

For example: 

"Seasons of Motherhood"

We invited sisters from our ward to share a message of their personal "Season of Motherhood" - where they are currently in their life as a mother.

We heard from a brand new mother, a mother of teenage boys and young boys, an aunt, a grandmother, a great grandmother, a foster mother, and a great-great grandmother. We heard from a sweet sister who has not yet had any children but shared a loving song to honor her kind mother that made me tear up. She was accompanied by a 95 year old great grandmother who I want to be when I grow up. No joke. She's awesome.

Each of these ladies shared such uplifting and heart felt messages, causing me to feel so close to each of them personally, as well as the family members they spoke of. I missed my own mommy and mother-in-law who weren't there, but could reflect on the love they both have for me and my Sugar. Most importantly, their messages helped me feel the love my Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother have for me. Such a wonderful plan He had for us to come to this Earth and have these blessings we call families.

I loved each of these ladies so much before, but am now just continually inspired by them even more so.

Fresh flowers from the gardens of these sweet sisters decorated our tables

Homemade cookies from our mothers recipe collections

2nd - Activity Days Leader

This calling means I get to work with young girls, ages 8-11 build their testimonies of the Savior, the love for scriptures, and enrich their lives with important skills that will benefit them all of their lives. 

And the best part is, I get to be in their with my big girl.

To be honest, I was nervous when I was extended the call because I thought my girl enjoyed her time away from me, even if it was only for an hour every 2 weeks.

But surprisingly enough when I told that I'd be helping out in there, she was so thrilled. She even gave me a big hug and smiled. She asks me every Wednesday if we have Activity Days and what fun we are going to do. 

How could I not love this calling? The girls are sweet, quirky, and fun. The lessons we have are uplifting, encouraging, and personalized to their needs. And I get to be a part of their lives in a positive way. 

So in this church, this church I go to, this church I'm a member of, this church called The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, we have callings. And I currently have 2 awesome ones.