How the Grinch Stole Valentine's Day

As you all know Valentine's Day fell on a Tuesday this year. Weekdays are toughies when it comes to celebrating for we Beck's. Both Austin and I are on campus till about 7 or 9 most days schooling, tutoring, studying, working in the lab, whatever. So we had this brilliant idea to have our celebration the weekend before Valentines. This was decided a couple weeks before the big V-day. Look at me all planning ahead!

But! My brain forgot that detail...big time. In fact as Valentine's Day drew near my brain proceeded to plan Tuesday things, which included canceling a tutoring appointment, going home early, making a kick butt candle light dinner. The works.

Austin's brain did not forget.

So Saturday night Austin left around 7:00 professing he wanted to grab some groceries so that I could finish up our primary lesson. When he wasn't home an hour later, I started getting fidgety "Where did that fella go?". Relief came when I heard him open the front door. I look up and see this sheepish grin on his face, a pot of roses, and cake mix in his hands.

Insert foot <here>.....remove, repeat.........repeat......repeat.....eh you missed a spot.......and repeat again just for good measure.

Well...the roses didn't look exactly like this. In fact mine are starting to die because plants need water and I forget this...regularly. But they were this voluptuous in spirit.

Thankfully I have a forgiving guy who didn't hold a grudge and let me make it up to him. But yep.....that is how V-Day went down for us.  Can anyone top that?

Today I'm not going to complain because the weekend will be starting in less then three hours, and that it'll be a simple weekend too. On the list: bowling with friends, cuddling with husband, finishing up homework, cleaning the house, and being able to sleep in till 9 o'clock. I can make it till then.

A little pick me up here

"If the Church of Jesus Christ has not left me a better person, than I have not developed as I should"

~L. Tom Perry, BYU-I Devotional January 24, 2012

Amitié!

"But friendship is precious, not only in the shade of life, but in the sunshine of life, and thanks be to benevolent arrangement that the greater part is sunshine"

~Thomas Jefferson

We had Austin's birthday party today and it went pretty darn well. I was a little nervous cause it was the first party I've thrown for him and I wanted to make sure it was a good one. Once everyone got there and started chatting I realized how lucky we are to have such close good friends.  And lucky that I have such a affable husband. Most of my friends are not married, so more often than not we spend time with friends that were initially his. Dang he does a good job in the friend picking department! Not only are the guys funny and great company, but their wives are awesome as well! (which in the married world is sometimes a hit and miss) I really enjoy spending time with all of them!

The party list consisted mostly of Austin's study partners and wives, Jenn and Josh, and cousin Jess. I  loved having our house full of people, that we had to put in a leaf to expand the table, that most of the cake was eaten, that there was a lot of laughter :) It was fun to see how everyone interacted. None of them knew each other, but they all knew Austin. It was really neat to see them all come to support and show their love for him (in a completely manly man way). So happy birthday, Austin! I'm glad it was special for you!

Carpe Diem!

Seize the day! That has been the mind set of Heidi Beck lately. End product:

--Applied to internship at the National Rehab Hospital in Washington, DC. Gynormous city hospital, little country girl Heidi. Reviewed my application and scored an interview on Tuesday. It's going to be AWESOME!
--Feeling good in skinny jeans. Never thought it would happen, but it did.
--Applied to be the society president for my major. Made it!
--Shaved my head.  Not really.
--Schooled Austin in a game of dart gun wars. Shooting aimlessly in the dark is priceless.

I like this mind set.

Beautiful Heartbreak

I stumbled on a picture while looking up references on google. Since then I keep reading about this amazing woman and her beautiful faith:

When I first heard her story my heart broke. Plane crash, 80% of her body covered in 3rd degree burns. How could anyone come back from that? Her faith in Jesus Christ and love for her family has truly inspired me.

"I was with somebody who told me that I could choose to live and have a hard life, you know, embarassing at times and painful. Or, I could just stay there, and there's lots of work I could do there too. But I thought of my children and my husband, and it was easy. An easy choice."

Inspired me to exercise my faith in my Savior. To connect with Him, not just talk at Him. To reflect who He is through me. To not complain about how much I've been given.

Gut check one, two...

I dread deadlines. Always have. In grade school I consistently lost those extra ten points because I didn't turn in those darn parent signature slips. Sometimes it was because I forgot, but mostly it was this little resistance the swelled up inside my little body. I would worry about not turning it in, but hated having to report back soooo much. I liked to think of it as my way of sticking it to the man. I don't know where this little rebellious streak came from, I'm a middle child? Little man syndrome? I don't know.  I'm much better now, but every once and a while I find myself toe to toe with that little resistant part of me every now and again.  The problem is is that I'm not in elementary school anymore, I'm in college and "sticking it to the man" usually in tales a lot of pain and regret on my part.  My internship deadline is coming up. I've been preparing for it for almost two years. Seriously. Two years. I was on top of this. I went back east two years ago to meet the department heads for Therapeutic Rec and get a feel for who I would like to internship under. I sent thank you notes afterward, the whole suck up bid. But now I'm actually at the end of my undergrad road and I'm one step away from falling off the cliff into my internship...and I've gone all pansy on myself!!!

Mom's are good for this kind of thing. I called her up. Her advice: Don't think, just do it.

Pop! goes the mouse and other New Year's Resolutions

Nothing brings in the New Year like mouse poop on your pillow. It gets the blood going and really inspires definitive Clorox action. When we came home from our Christmas vacation many mouse poops greeted us in multiple areas in the house. But, when I saw that mouse had infested my pillow top mattress, it got personal. No mercy. Fight terror with terror. Or something to that effect. To all you mouse haters Bubblicious bubblegum can kill three mice in less than 24 hours. Well, one thing the vermin did do for us was jump start our little New Year's List: Kill all vermin.

Another list Husband and I are concocting is a BYU-I Bucket List. Being our last semester, we want to do all the things we were too busy, or under some impression we were too cool for (that impression has long since been recognize as a farce). First on the list was to become I-Reps. This is an organization complied completely of single people who are peppy at 6:00 am, which makes them freaks of nature. The real purpose for this group is to welcome new freshmen, organize on campus activities, etc. But I have a strong hunch it really is meant to match equally perky individuals with each other to ensure perky children in a few years. Okay, I'm not that cynical (but really...). Although Austin and I were one of the only married couple (they liked to fuse our identities together "Oh! You're the Becks!"), it was really fun to be with a bunch of high energy people (I cannot confirm or deny how much caffeine they did or did not ingest), it felt really good to be serving other people, and being in charge of the jousting booth at the carnival was a blast! Nothing like bouncing around a blow up jousting square and watching people hit each other with over sized padded sticks! I forget how much of a social bug I am till I get back into those situations. We both really enjoyed ourselves and would like to do it again if we could.

Some other things on the list:
        ~join a battleship team (life size battleship in a swimming pool. Last canoe not sunk wins!)
        ~get an on campus personal trainer
        ~go to at least one play, dance competition, and music concert on campus
        ~go to latin dance night
        ~win a prize for doing the weekly sudoku puzzle
        ~volunteer for something for outdoor activities

We'll see how do-able our ambitious goals are with both of us pulling 17 upper level credits, me applying for an internship and part of a research class, and he pulling physics and math tutoring. But hey! Rest when you're dead, right?

Quotes

‎

"Do not confuse your path with your destination- just because it's 

stormy now doesn't mean you aren't headed for sunshine"

The Thrill of it All!

Happy First Anniversary, Love!

I know it's a little early...but it's going to get crazy from today till New Year's so I wanted to say I love you!

People told me that the first year would be the worst... but we've had a blast so far!!!  

Things that make me crazy for you!!!

-The way your noes crinkles when you laugh

-How excited you get to pick up the mail

-Your curiosity

-Tickle fights, water fights, flour fights, snowball fights

-How kind you are to the telemarketers

-The black patch of hair on the left side of your head

-Poems

-Your Sunday dinners! Yum!

-How you turn on quiet music while we're getting ready for church

-Your blue blue eyes 
-How you support my "I want to learn everything RIGHT NOW" attitude
-That you with me on my rock climbing trainings, my volunteer meetings, help me with knitting, etc. 

-That you always laugh at my jokes...even when they're dumb

-How understanding you are

-How excited you get to tell me about new things you learn at school

-That low base voice of yours

-How you let me warm my cold feet up on your warm legs at night
-You can calm me down when I go into freak out mode

-When you give me random hugs and tell me "I just love you!"

-The way you offer me your arm when we're walking

-How much you love to snuggle

I knew you should be mine when you told me that you, like me, still dream of being lead guitar in your own garage band someday.....shmily!

December 21, 2010

The Little Things

Today I am so grateful for little things. Being newly married most "things" husband and I possess are little things. But I am grateful for them nonetheless. Like that little Christmas wreath I found at the DI. Our door looks so cheerful with it! And how Austin made the bed this morning...because he could tell I woke up on the wrong side of it. I'm grateful for...

               ~Parents who offer me their awesome deals in fancy hotels because they want to help us save money and still have a nice anniversary.
                ~Sisters who come all the way back from the Philippines so close to Christmas, it give us Beck girls an excuse to get together again (and hopefully shop ;).
                ~Joyce, the little old lady I take care of, and her cute little euphemisms

I'm grateful for that feeling I get when I do something for someone else. I'm grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ. How it gives me hope and love in my heart to see past my insignificance and into helping and loving others. I am grateful that it is the birth of our Savior.

"I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" has become one of my favorites this year. Here is my favorite verse:

And in despair I bowed my head:
"There is no peace on earth," I said,
"For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men."

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men."

Welcome to TLC's "What Not to DO"

I sometimes am slightly addicted to "What Not to Wear". I don't know why. After a couple of episodes I found myself playing with the idea of chopping my hair into an edgy, possibly unflattering, hair cut and thinking up better insults for bad clothing choices than the hosts. Then, standing in front of my wardrobe one morning mumbling something like "Mix patterns and textures. No diaper jeans allowed" That's when I knew...I have a problem. Watching that show makes me crave shopping!  And, as we all know, mixing shopping with a smallish budget during Christmas time is like mixing Nicolas Cage with any sort of movie....it cannot be good. Stop looking at that awesome brown leather jacket, Heidi!! It is not on the Christmas list! That's it! I'm starting my New's Resolutions early...no more "What Not to Wear". I'm going Clinton and Stacy free.

On a better note, as far as Christmas decorations have gone we've been pretty lucky. Thanks to the fact that we were married around Christmas time we received a broad array of snowmen singing, skipping, or holding presents. Sparkly snowmen, clay snowmen, plaster snowmen. Who knew snowmen we're so versatile! Also a nativity set made of clay, an inspiring Christmas saying placed on a Christmas themed board, stockings, a couple different ornaments mostly with "Our First Christmas Together" spelled out in cursive across the front, and a ladle holder in the shape of Santa's head.  Little here, little there. Thanks to our local DI we have been furnished with a mdiget, pre-decorated Christmas tree and a tender little wreath for our door. We're feeling festive here in Stegelmeier #2. We're ready Santa. Hit me!

Have a holly jolly Christmas!

Steve Urkel, you got nothing on me!

***Really. This is long and nerdy. It was meant to be a Thanksgiving ideas/how to remember to be thankful after the holidays post. If you want that scroll to the end***

I heard in the news the other day that people who are more thankful have less headaches, get sick less often, and are overall more happy. As I was listening the nerdy (toilet paper in my shoe nerdy) theory buff inside of me perked up because it reminded me of my favorite theory by William Glasser, "Choice Theory" love Love LOVE! Get to know it and you'll love it too. In Therapeutic Recreation you get to be pretty good friends with TONS of theories. I've become a little attached to this one.

Pretty much what this theory says is that we have 5 basic needs (Love & Belonging, Survival, Fun/Learning, Power, Freedom). Everyone has differing levels for each need, but we all have them and according to Glasser we are born with these set levels. Watch the people around you and you'll start seeing it. That mom on the PTA board isn't just the crazy lady that takes control of everything...she has a high need for power, etc.We then translate that into our "quality world" or what we think makes a good life. It absolutaly affects the way we view and perceive the world. When that quality world is challenged things can get pretty dicey. Sometimes that's good (sticking to our morals when they are challenged), but sometimes it's not. Let's say your quality world is that you have a loving father who provides for you...but in reality you have an abusive father. That is when you have a choice: 1) continue to hold to your old quality world and be in a negative cycle of abuse as well as dealing with the mental difficulties of never meeting the standards of your quality world or 2) change your quality world...one without your abusive father in it possibly.

Choice theory also states that we cannot force anyone to do anything...but we try to. Two year olds have this down pat, aka temper tantrums. Grown ups throw temper tantrums too, but they come in slightly different forms: parents who disown their child because they've chosen something against their wishes, family feuds where either side wont talk to the other till someone apologizes. In all of these situations people are trying to control each other by: removing love and communication, punishment, acting out. What are your ways of acting out? The point of choice theory is to recognize these attributes in yourself as well as recognize that you cannot force anyone else to do what you want, you can only present choices. It makes life a little less frustrating when you make the switch. (Disclaimer: This applies really well to adults...but that doesn't necessarily mean it should be used on a two year old Love and Logic would be more applicable yet still within the realm of choice theory)

The physical part of choice theory is one of the most mind boggling to me. William Glasser, an MD who has been practicing over 30 years, has never medicated his patients! Depression, anxiety you name it. Part of it is in the language. When someone comes to him and says "I feel so depressed today" he responds by saying "Why are you depressing today". By changing that word slightly it takes the depression from being out of the patients control (being acted upon) and placing it in their realm of ability and responsibility (choosing to act).  Now I understand that there are some things which need medication, but maybe some things don't as much as we think they do....

What a wonderful phenomena...choice. In a world where everything is so reactive (you make me so made), isn't it empowering to know that really when it comes down to it we have a choice? Our minds are far more powerful than we give them credit for. Hmmmm doesn't that sound familiar?

 "Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and call things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself." -2 Nephi 2:27

We usually think of that in a spiritual sense of captivity...but what about physically and emotionally as well? Just a little food for thought. 

Anyway, back to the news report. They talked about being grateful and a lady gave some ideas her family did to remember to be grateful all year around as well as on Thanksgiving that I would like to use in my family:

~Keeping a family "Gratitude" journal where you talk about and enter one thing the family is grateful for that week (FHE idea anyone?). You leave the book out where anyone can read it and remember throughout the year what you've been grateful for and to continue to be grateful

~"Thankful" Rolls: It's pretty much the idea of a fortune cookie. Have everyone write on a slip of paper what they are thankful for and roll them up in your croissant rolls. It becomes a game as well of who is thankful for what

~Thankful Hands table cloth: Trace all your family members hands on a table cloth. Put their name, what they are thankful for, and the year inside of the hand. Each year add more "thankful hands" to the table cloth. It's fun to see what you are thankful for with each passing year! This lady stitched hers and it was pretty cute, but fabric markers would work, too!

Heros

If I were to meet some one who has already pass, aside from relatives, I would want to meet Eleanor Roosevelt. She had valor, moral character, sharp as a tack,  and darn it she had spunk! Not only that but she truly was wise. She was wise, well educated, insightful, observant and was articulate enough to express that wisdom. She is the kind of woman I would like to be. I mean, check out that smile! She could put out the sun it's so bright and cheery! These quotes really spoke to me, I hope they inspire you too!

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You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, "I have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along"...You must do the thing you think you cannot do. (You Learn Through Living)

It takes courage to love, but pain through love is the purifying fire which those who love generously know. We all know people who are so much afraid of pain that they shut themselves up like clams in a shell and, giving out nothing, receive nothing and therefore shrink until life is a mere living death. (1 April 1939)

I have never felt that anything really mattered but the satisfaction of knowing that you stood for the things in which you believed and had done the very best you could. (8 November 1944)

A mature person is one who does not think only in absolutes, who is able to be objective even when deeply stirred emotionally, who has learned that there is both good and bad in all people and all things, and who walks humbly and deals charitably with the circumstances of life, knowing that in this world no one is all-knowing and therefore all of us need both love and charity. (You Learn Through Living)


 Quotes came from her book “You Learn Through Living” (1937) and her daily newspaper column “My Day” (1937-1962)

Today's Life Lessons

Things I learned today:

-Nutmeg is a strong spice...a very strong spice. Although it can be paired with cinnamon it shouldn't be used as freely

-7:00 turns into 8:00 which then turns into running late fairly quickly if you don't get enough sleep

-Husband cannot read my thoughts. Calling to let him know I'm waiting in the parking lot can save twenty minutes or so

-Car batteries die and go to heaven, no matter how careful you've been not to leave them on for hours at a time

-Kindles are pretty cool

-It's okay to charge people for the work I do

-Not taking my fiber pill has its consequences

-I can't control other people's actions. So I'm not going to complain about people complaining

-Listening to the Christian Rock station is more uplifting and less lame than I used to think 

-Home feels like home when Austin is in it