Q&A Forever

I found this post in my drafts folder. I never published it because I was going to find some kind of photo to go with is, but I still can’t post photos from my phone. This inconvenience has really put a damper on my blogging. 

Obligatory photo:

(I found this at the DI last week. It has nothing to do with this post).

Here is yet another questionnaire writing prompt. Is it weird that I’m 42 and still do these?

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What’s a topic you could talk about for hours?

Any of these forty topics (and more). 

What’s something that’s made you really proud lately?

I’ve done 100 jumps (sometimes more) everyday for 46 54 days.

If you could witness any historical event, what would it be?

Any of the Jesus things. I’m just curious how I’d perceive it all. 

What’s your favorite way to spend time with friends?

Talking and laughing. Bonus if we are also eating. 

If you had unlimited time and resources, what hobby would you start?

I would buy vintage cars and old houses and (pay someone to) fix them up. 

What’s your favorite thing about your current job?

I can’t tell you. You would think I’m spoiled, and I like to keep the comforts of my job top secret.

What’s the most creative thing you’ve ever done?

One summer I held a free dance class for ages 10-14. Every week I taught the class one minute of choreography and a lesson on self-worth. 

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

I don’t have a specific location in mind, but I would love to live in an old church. 

What’s one thing you wish you knew how to do?

Rap battle.

If you could have any animal as a pet, which would it be?

Meerkats. I feel like you need more than one, hence the plural.

If you could instantly learn a new language, which would it be and why?

Spanish because a large majority of my community is Spanish-speaking. 

What’s the most spontaneous thing you’ve ever done?

Went to Disney World with 11 days notice.

Sunday Sentiments - Glory in My Jesus

Today in Relief Society (the women's class at my Church) we discussed the talk "I Glory in My Jesus" by Elder Aaron T. Hall. I missed most of the lesson because I did singing time in primary, but I studied the lesson at home this week and snuck in the class for the last few minutes. 

In the talk, Elder Hall shared a scripture from Nephi's closing words in the Book of Mormon in which Nephi stated, "I glory in my Jesus." There are two parts to this line that stand out to me: 

First, to "glory." When the word "glory" is used as a verb, it means to rejoice proudly, exult, or take great delight in something. So Nephi was saying that he takes great delight in Jesus Christ, but the second part to that is Nephi referring to the Savior as "my Jesus." 

Artwork by Malory Fiso

This made me think about whether we as individuals can (or should) have our own image of Jesus, His character, and who He is. Is it better for us to have a collective understanding of who Christ is or to have our own perceptions and ideas of who He is? I think there is good to both scenarios. On one hand, it is good to have an accurate and doctrinely sound understanding of His mission and His teachings. But there is also goodness in connecting to certain parts of His character that reach our individual hearts. I thought about this in terms of people I know in this life. I have my version of everyone I interact with. Let's say I have best friend named Betty (shouldn't everyone have a Best Friend Betty?). My experiences with her shape how I describe her. I may see parts of Betty that no one else sees, or there may be aspects of her personality that stand out to me more than others. No one else will see or interpret Betty the way I do, though there may be plenty of overlap. I will always have my version of Betty based on my unique observations and experiences with her. Likewise, I have my Nicky or my Daisy or my grandma or my Mrs. Patterson (I figured I'd throw my third grade teacher in there. Why not?)

Just as my perception of a person is unique based on our experiences together, I can have my Jesus. We can each have our Jesus and glory in that Jesus. 

In Elder Hall's talk, he shared some more of Nephi's words regarding his Jesus. Nephi mentioned that Jesus Christ had been his support, had led him through afflictions, had preserved him, and had filled him with His love. When I read that, I thought, THAT is Nephi's Jesus!

Later in the talk, Elder Hall shared many of the aspects of Christ that he glories in, and I thought, THAT is Elder Hall's Jesus!

Then there was a quote from President Oaks about Christ, and I thought, THAT is President Oaks' Jesus!

Of course it's all the same Jesus, but each person focused on something meaningful to glory over in regards to their Savior.

This has me thinking more about my Jesus. What are the parts of Christ that I need the most in my personal journey, and what does that make Him for me? I’ve always struggled to develop a relationship with Christ. I have a bit of a personal stumbling block that I haven't been able to pray or study myself out of yet, but I'm always working on it, and I'm always listening for the answer that helps me move past it. Hopefully someday I'll have a better idea of who my Jesus is. 

What We've Been Up To Lately

It's May, and we all know May can be a bit insane, but I have to say, it's not as bad when you don't have a graduate. I keep thinking, "Why does it feel easier this year?" and then I remember that having a senior made everything at least twice as chaotic. And when that senior is leaving on a mission a few weeks after graduation, and he thinks he needs to go on three trips in that time whilst recovering from an injury, it's a lot. I look back to last year at this time and wonder how we made it. I'm going to embrace the ease of May 2026. Here's what we've been up to during this easier but still crazy month:

Daisy's final theatre performance was three nights as Lady Laughs A Lot in The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood. The play was a lot of fun - we had some good laughs with Daisy.

I did the locker decorations for the play. 

I did not know (prior to this) that painting posters is a whole thing right now. After Robin Hood, I made a poster for our friend, Mark's, 50th birthday (yep - my friends are starting to push into the next decade. It's inevitable!)

Daisy went to senior ball (and we chaperoned). She opted to go with a group of girls and no dates. It was the easiest school dance ever! 

(See how easy? I don't even have a photo! It's like it never even happened! That's how easy it was!)

My girls had five dance concerts in a row last week - one for high school, two for junior high, and two for our community studio. 

We've kept the grandparents hopping!

Daisy had Drama Awards - of course she was awarded "Best Laugh."

She also got a Bronze Letter in Theatre. 

We have eaten out way too much! After adding up our expenditures, my jaw hit the floor. We will be reigning it in now. 

I do not regret a single onion tower I've consumed this week, though! (Two. Don't judge. One was technically Christie's, so it doesn't count against me). 

Scotty was sick about a week and a half ago, and then Eva got sick this week (she missed three days of school - way to go out strong!)

I cracked a crown and had to have a new one put on. My temporary crown fell off after two days, so I had to go have it put back on until my permanent one was ready. I love my dental staff, but I don't want to see them again until October. And honestly, not even then. 

We got our garden planted. We started with our cold weather crops in March and finished the rest over Mother's Day weekend. 

We planted carrots, radishes, peas, potatoes, onions, corn, summer squash, spaghetti squash, tomatoes, pumpkins, watermelons, crenshaws, strawberries, basil, chives, sage, parsley, green beans, and a few different flowers. May the odds be ever in our favor! Every year, we have about a 50% success rate. We just never know where our success will lie! I got a little ambitious with pumpkins this year. We'll see what happens.

I put out my 4th of July decorations. It’s early, but I did it while I had the time and the desire. 

I started teaching Zoe how to use the grill. 

I keep thinking of all the life skills my kids don't have and how quickly I'll be sending them out into the world. I'm hoping to tackle a few skills this summer. I’m a big dreamer.

We still talk to Nicky on Monday nights. He remains on the island of Antigua picking up stray cats and stray toilets. Perhaps he'll need a de-worming pill on account of both. 

Eight more days of May! Four more days of school. 

What I've Read Lately and What I Have to Say About It

Good Morning Monster

Genre: Non-Fiction, Memoir

Format: Audiobook

In this book, a therapist recounts working with five different patients who had a huge impact on her life. I really like reading books like this because this is an area of interest for me, but stories of trauma and adversity aren't for everyone. 

Don't Let Him In

Genre: Thriller, Crime

Format: Audiobook

I've enjoyed many books by Lisa Jewell, so I'm always willing to give them a try. This one is about a conman and some of the identities and relationships he forms to commit his crimes. I listened to the audiobook, and one of the narrators is Richard Armitage, whom I refer to as "the best looking of the dwarves" (i.e. Thorin Oakenshield in The Hobbit) (I've also made mention of the "best kiss" from North & South). So I love me some Richard Armitage, but he always narrates the most skeezy characters in audiobooks! So you just know that when the guy is voiced by my buddy, Richard, he's going to be a total scumbag. 

The hot dwarf

The only part of the show that isn't completely boring

Four stars for this one, but I wouldn't let my grandma read it due to sex and language. 

More or Less Maddy

Genre: Contemporary, Mental health, Family fiction

Format: Audiobook

I've read some of Lisa Genova's books (Still Alice and Every Note Played) and found them touching and informative. She is a neuroscientist and tries to write stories that help bring awareness to various neurological conditions. This particular story is about Maddy, a young adult with biploar disorder. I think Genova did a great job depicting some of the internal battle that comes with treating symptoms - medication can be so helpful, but there is so much to still be studied, and there is always a wrestle with balancing wellness and side effects. I enjoyed this book immensely and think it has an important message, but I found it crass at times (particularly in Maddy's stand-up comedy). I wouldn't let my grandma read it.

Inside the O'Briens

Genre: Mental Health, Family Fiction

Format: Audiobook

After I finished More or Less Maddy, I found another book by Lisa Genova in my Audible line-up that I hadn't yet listened to. Inside the O'Briens is about Joe O'Brien, a middle-aged police officer, who finds out he has Huntington's Disease. Being a lethal, genetic degenerative disease, his family members have to make the choice for themselves whether to be tested for the genetic mutation. Joe must choose how to live with his disease. One of the most poignant parts of the story, for me, is when his daughter points out that he will set the example and teach them how to live with Huntington's. And that changes everything. 

I struggled with Joe's character a little bit, but I wonder if that's because of how the narrator voiced him. I wonder how I would have viewed him if I'd read the book in my own voice. Too late now! Other than that, it was a great book. I wouldn't feel good about letting my grandma read it, however. Language, as usual.

When the World Fell Silent

Genre: Historical Fiction

Format: E-Book

This story takes place during the Halifax explosion of 1917. Guess what! I didn't know anything about the explosion prior to reading this book. Now that I've read it, I still don't know anything about the explosion. So that would be my one big critique of the novel - it didn't help me learn much about the historical tragedy. Instead, it's the alternating story of two women - Nora and Charlotte - and their personal experiences after the explosion. 

The good news is, I would let my grandma read this. It does contain pre-marital relations resulting in a pregnancy, but it's not descriptive. 

The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell

Genre: Coming of Age, Family Fiction

Format: Audible

I've had this book on my to-read list for years. It took a while because my library doesn't have it, so I eventually used an Audible credit for it. 

Sam was born with a condition that gave him red eyes. Throughout his life he is bullied and mistreated. This book is the story of his life, and well, let's just say I'm happy I don't summarize books for a living because this is what you get from me. 

I wouldn't let my grandma read this. There were a couple of things that I wouldn't want her to read in here. 

The Life She Was Given

Genre: Historical Fiction

Format: E-Book

This book started out very intriguing - I couldn't put it down. As it went on, I felt like the plot started getting sloppy. By the end, I only gave it three of five stars. It was entertaining, but you kind of have to overlook some flaws in the writing. I don't typically like circuses as a setting, and I tried really hard to not let that affect my opinion of the book, but I remain firm in my dislike for circuses (you may be thinking, "But Britt, you loved The Greatest Showman!" You're right, I did. I put up with a circus for Hugh Jackman). 

Oh, but what's this book about? 

In the 1930's Lilly has albinism, and her parents have kept her hidden from the world. Then one day, her yucky mom sells her to the circus, and then all the circus-y things happen. 

Would I let my grandma read this? I might. There is some sexual abuse and mild immoral behavior I would caution her about first. This is the kind of book that, even though I didn't love it, I want someone I know to read it because I want to know what they think. 

What I've Watched Lately and What I Have to Say About It

Freaks and Geeks

Status: Finished

My friend (and coworker) Jessica recommended Freaks and Geeks, and I usually enjoy her suggestions for books and shows, so I gave it a whirl. It took about four episodes for me to get into it, but I ended up really liking it! I remember when it was on TV, but I never watched it. Freaks and Geeks aired for only one season in 1999-2000, and then it was canceled. That made me worried that it wouldn't sum up in a satisfactory way, and I might be left hanging, but I was okay with the ending. It turns out, they knew the show was canceled before the end of the season, so they were able to wrap it up accordingly. 

There are a couple of things about the show I wasn't super enthused about - I don't care for James Franco or Seth Rogan, and I really hate teen bullying and casual drinking. Those things exist prominently in this show. But there are some really endearing characters, like little brother Sam and his friend Bill (Bill is my favorite). There are also a lot of actors that appeared in the show before they were stars, so it's fun to watch and see who pops up (Mel from Virgin River and Karen from The Office, who plays a character named... Karen... for example). 

Michael

I got to see Michael with some of my best friends, and we all loved it (some more than others, but for our group, the reviews were positive). Mostly, I wanted to watch Christie watch Michael because Christie is a super fan, but we had weird seats and there was a wall between us, so I had to rely on my old lady ears to hear her reacting on the other side. 

I'm excited for part II. 

The Count of Monte Cristo

Status: Finished

I've never read the book, but I've seen some of the movies (the black and white one and the one with Jim Caviezel), and I love the story. I was so excited when I heard that they were making a mini series in 2024. I just had to wait for it to become available in the states. I looked forward to getting more of the story than a two hour movie can offer.

Watched it. Loved it. I look forward to watching it again in a few years. Maybe with Nicky. 

Lord of the Flies

Status: Unfinished

I've never read Lord of the Flies (it was optional reading in AP English - we got to choose what books we read from an approved list, and I never chose this one), but Daisy is reading it for school currently. I started the series last week, and I don't know if I'll finish it or not. I'm not exactly sucked in to the story, but I love Piggy. And yes, I know.

The Forsytes

Status: Unfinished

After I finished The Count of Monte Cristo, I figured I would take advantage of the Masterpiece add-on on Amazon (which I paid for a month for) and watch some other offerings. I started The Forsytes and, as with Lord of the Flies, moved on to other things. The Forsytes has that Downtown Abbey feel, and it’s pretty clean, but it didn't hook me. Partially because I started reading up on the book series it's based on and discovered how many creative liberties they were taking with the plot, and that kind of bothered me even though I've never read the books. I haven't written it off entirely, but as of now, I haven't become invested in it. 

Unchosen

Status: Finished

I love me some good cult stories, but in the end, this show wasn't so much about a cult as it was about a criminal who infiltrated the cult (it's fictional). I didn't really care for it and don't recommend it. It had some yucky stuff.

Remarkably Bright Creatures

I've read the book, and thought it was just okay, but even if I don't love the book, I still like to see what they do with the movie. I'm always curious. I watched the movie the weekend it was released, and I quite enjoyed it. It's pretty clean - just a couple instances of language. I liked Lewis Pullman in it. I don’t like sea creatures, but I survived.

Trust Me The False Prophet

Speaking of cults...

This documentary series feels kind of like a sequel to Keep Sweet, Pray & Obey. It relays the take down of Sam Bateman, who claimed to be Warren Jeffs' successor in the FLDS sect. There is some strong language and descriptions of sexual abuse. 

Sunday Sentiments - Given a Goliath

I have a graphic saved on Pinterest that says, "When God wanted to make a king out of David, He didn't give him a crown - he gave him Goliath. Your challenges prepare you for your purpose."

I recently read a book called Good Morning Monster which is a memoir written by a therapist named Catherine Gildener (I have a post in my drafts folder about some of the books I've read lately, so stay tuned for that). 

In the book, the author writes about five patients she worked with during her career that had a profound impact on her. One of the patients was named "Peter" (I think she used pseudonyms), and he was severely abused as a child. He was isolated and locked in an attic for much of his upbringing. During that time, he played with a toy piano and discovered that he had an amazing gift for music. In adulthood, he was a prestigious pianist. 

In one of their sessions. Dr. Gildener asked Peter if he would change his childhood if he could. Peter had realized that if he hadn't suffered the abuse and been locked away, he wouldn't have found the piano, and he wouldn't have discovered and honed in on his gift for creating music. 

This, of course, doesn't make the mistreatment okay or justified, but it's an example of rising above horrible circumstances. 

I keep thinking about this because I'm sure there are examples from my own life where a challenge has prepared me for a purpose. My brain just hasn't been able to deep dive on it yet because this week was INSANE (five dance concerts! FIVE!!! And we're not even that kind of dance people!)

I just wanted to throw this out there this Sabbath Day as something to think about. Has there been adversity in your life that prepared you for a purpose? 

(I'll be contemplating mine) 

Things My Kids Said to Me During Sacrament Meeting on Mother's Day

"My scissors aren't scissoring."

Complained Zoe. Zoe crochets during sacrament meeting, so she often cuts yarn. She was making some yarn pom poms, and her dull scissors were giving her grief. 

"Can I have yours?"

Asked Eva, when they announced that Mother's Day gifts would be handed out to the women outside the chapel doors. She didn't even know what the gift was, and she immediately tried to lay claim on it.

(It was a loaf of bread, and my answer was NO! YOU CANNOT HAVE IT!)

"Will you pay me a dollar to sing?"

Eva requested when they announced that the primary would be singing for Mother's Day. Again, No! I told her I'm not paying for my Mother's Day gift, and if I hadn't been in church, I would have said, "Now get your @$$ up there and sing to me!”

"I want Swig!"

Another request from Eva, and another big, fat NO! from me.

"This water is too watery."

Whined Eva about the sacrament.

"Can we go home?"

"I don't want to sit on the end."

"I'm cold."

"I'm bored."

"I'm thirsty."

"What time are we going to Grandma's house?"

"Do I have to go to class?"

"Can I come to your class?"

"Can I drink Dad's water?"

"Do you have any gum?"

"What's for lunch?"

"Can I play on your phone?"

Needless to say, second hour couldn't come fast enough.