What I Wished I Would Have Said?

Last Saturday was tough! After a chaotic effort to set up flags for each house in our ward for Flag Day, I had to finish turning in the last of my Young Women's permission forms for the Stake Pioneer Trek that is this week. I was stressed and tired, so when I took the forms to the person collecting them from our Stake, I wasn't fully prepared for what happened next. To keep it short, there had been a mix-up and he thought I hadn't turned in any forms, when I had turned in the majority of them two weeks before. Anyways, once this person realized I had all my trek forms in order, he said to me, "I just thought you were too young to have the depth to understand how important these permission forms are."

What did I say?
"Oh, well I am young....but I'm just glad it all worked out."

What I wished I would have said?
"If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all."
"I didn't realize age had anything to do with one's capabilities."
"Well I just thought you were too old and slow to pick up on the fact that I have this all taken care of."
"Age aside, the Bishop seems to think I have enough depth."
"I may be young, but I think I can handle collecting and delivering forms."
"Let me give you my card. Call me and I'll schedule you for a session to learn some interpersonal skills."
"Wow, that is the kind of statement you think in your mind, but don't actually say outloud because it is inappropriate."
"Don't worry, my young age will serve me well on the trail next week."

I'm trying to let it go...

Aloha

It has only been two weeks since Bret and I got home from Hawaii and I already feel like I need another vacation. Life feels very chaotic, especially because our time in Maui was so idyllic. Bret golfed, we did some hiking, but mostly we just sat at our resort enjoying the beautiful views. We decided to take a break from scuba diving and just snorkle. Let me say this, snorkling is so lame compared to diving. That is one thing we will do different next time, and yes I'm already thinking about the next time!

Calling for Your Recipes

Does anybody have any great recipes for beginner to intermediate cooks? I'm putting together a cookbook of favorite recipes for the Laurels that are graduating from High School this year. As the new Young Women's president, this is one of those responsibilities that I'm very excited about, because I love putting together fun gifts! If you have any recipes you are willing to share with me, please send them to me by email. As thanks for your time, I will email you back with all the recipes I receive, once I've compiled them. So come on people, don't be stingy (or lazy)!

Cottage in the Woods - Lucky!

Today I found a link to an article that described people who created their dream home offices. Unfortunately, when I finished the article I didn't have any ideas of how I could make my own work spaces more motivating and pleasant. Instead, I was left with feelings of envy and longing! The article described a woman who wanted a quiet place to write and let the creative juices flow (don't we all). She spent $15,000 building her dream "writer's cottage" in the wood in Connecticut. Her cottage is to-die-for and I desperately want one! Unfortunately, I don't forsee us setting aside that kind of money for my own cottage, much less finding a patch of lush, thick woods in our backyard. Maybe some day...