“It is never too late or too soon. It is when it is supposed to be.”

The Time Keeper by Mitch Albom

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I love Mitch Albom's books. They make you think about life in a different way and appreciate what you have. It's been a while since I read his other books, but this one may be my favorite.
The story is about Father Time; how he became Father Time; and how he must now help two people, one who wants more time in this world and one who wants less, learn to appreciate the time they have. It's an interesting commentary on the value of life and time. 

Some of my favorite quotes from the book:

"There is a reason God limits our days. . . . To make each one precious." 

“We all yearn for what we have lost. But sometimes, we forget what we have.” 

“When you are measuring life, you are not living it.” 

As a side note, I went to see "Nostalgia for the Light," a documentary comparing two groups of people who are searching for the past in Chile's Atacama Desert. Astronomers look heavenward to find answers to the origin of life and a group of women are sifting through the sand of the desert trying to find the remains of their loved ones that were killed and disposed of during the regime of the dictator Augusto Pinochet. 
The documentary brought up some interesting points concerning time and the delicate nature of it. One of the astronomers said that there is no such thing as the present, because by the time you hear what he is saying, time has already passed since he said it (I.Q. reference anyone?). It made me think about The Time Keeper and just how fluid and fragile time is. 
One of the astronomers, who was also the daughter of two of the political prisoners that disappeared, said that the reason she loved astronomy so much is because observing the vastness of the stars and galaxies helped her feel like maybe time and space went on forever, and it wasn't all over for her parents.
If only she understood the full truth about eternity and the plan of God. 

All of these things make me grateful for the knowledge I have about our eternal potential. Knowing that life goes on after this life, makes it a little easier both to appreciate the time we have here on earth and live it to the fullest, and to understand that this life is but a small moment in the span of eternity and the best is yet to come.

Google needs some new linguists.

I've actually been to Serbia and while I'm not fluent (okay I don't know any Serbian), I know that's not Serbian.

English. It's the new Serbian.

An Unlikely Meeting with Destiny

An Invisible Thread by Laura Schroff


My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love the way the author wove together her story and Maurice's story, into a autobiography/biography. She was brutally honest about the effect of drugs on alcohol on both hers and Maurice's families. The way she described their experiences, especially the complete absence of so many normal, structured situations in Maurice's life and the terror inflicted on her life by her father's alcoholism, made me want to force anyone who has ever considered taking a drink or smoking a joint to read this book. At times this book made me sick. It was encouraging, however, to see what a big impact her small actions had on Maurice and how the things she taught him by example and casual conversation helped him to avoid falling into the vicious cycle that everyone he knew was slave to. And of course, all she learned from Maurice and the role he filled in her life even though many people criticized their relationship was very refreshing. I recommend this book to anyone who wants a good read about the power of humanity to overcome the failings of society.

English Blunder of the Day

Foiled by phonetic proximity of spelling!

I'm Goin' on a Mission

I have been called to serve in the Albania Tirana Mission (Tiranë Shqipëri). I report to the MTC on July 20th to learn to speak Albanian and how to share the gospel. I can't wait. I stopped by the Liahona while I was in Salt Lake last week and got some Albanian magazines. The Albanian Liahona is only published four times a year, but I am excited to get to read it that much. Maybe someday God's Albanian speaking children will get twelve issues of his word every year. Until that happens, I am glad they get to read conference, the Easter issue, and any special issues.
I read through the conference Liahona, and after about ten minutes of reading the names of the speakers I had figured out the sounds that the letter combinations make and I could describe them and started reading non-name words, and figuring out what some of them meant. My mom told me I was a nerd. I took that as a compliment.

So, in case you haven't gathered, I am excited to learn about the Albanian language, I'm excited to meet and serve the people, and I'm excited to share with them the joy that the gospel has brought to my life. The Church is true, and I can't wait to tell the double the 20,000 members and ten branches in Albania! I already love those people and I haven't even met any of them yet. Just learning about their country and their history has made me so excited to get to know them.
I think that could happen with every nation and people. If we would all get to know the people around us, we would realize they aren't so different from us, and they are all worth loving. I've been thinking about this concept a lot lately. So, no matter where you are, take the time to get to know someone you wouldn't necessarily think to love, and see if they don't become one of your favorite people. Have a great day, everyone and share the love!

Më pëlqen Shqipëria: I love Albania (Courtesy Google translate)

http://www.mormon.al

Well, it looks good on a resume . . .

I've seen links for prospective employees on lots of companies' websites, but I didn't realize there were openings in the British Monarchy or that you could just apply online. Maybe I'll apply when the position of Queen opens up.

On that note, I was discussing useless majors with some friends the other day, and one of them brought up geography. I said "Hey, Prince William was a geography major. It would be useful for a king." Then I realized it really doesn't matter what he studies. I'm pretty sure he doesn't need a stellar resume for his future job. He was born with all the qualifications he needs.

The Power of Words

I'm at a loss for words about the power of words, so I'll just let the video, courtesy of my mother's forward chain, speak for itself:

My Husband Wish List

I would like to marry someone whose mother is a terrible cook so he will never be disappointed in my lack of culinary skill.
In case I don't get my wish, I'll keep this conversation in mind:

Brother Schwab after his new bride served a third bad meal in a row: I wish you could cook like my mother.

Sister Schwab: I wish you could make money like my dad.

I'd also like to marry someone who can spell.

I really must be that age.

Remember this post? Well I must be getting up there, because now the first four items on my facebook news feed are all about my friends' brand new children. My friends are too young to be having children. "When the children start having children just how small are they going to get? Have you met my kid? And their little kid? Pretty soon it'll be this ridiculous Russian doll situation."

Live in Peace

The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud by Ben Sherwood

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I just finished reading The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud. Unfortunately I watched the movie before I read the book, so I already knew the punchline. Despite this, I still enjoyed the book and it really got me thinking in a couple places. Charlie St. Cloud is the caretaker for the Waterside Cemetery. He prepares and cares for the graves of all the townspeople buried there. He also has a gift. He can see the spirits in the cemetery that hang around before moving on to the next level. He watches these spirits observing their own memorial services, and comments on their reactions to the false niceties that people tell when they can't think of anything genuinely good to say about the dead, or their happy surprise when they realize that people really loved them more or noticed them more than they thought in life. This got me thinking. If I were to observe my own memorial service, would my friends and loved ones have to make up nice things to say about me, or would their words about me be genuine? What do I do in life that the people I care about appreciate and notice? What would they have to say about me, and what lasting impression would they be left with when that's all they had of me? Also, why do we wait until people are gone to recognize and tout the things we love about them? I think we could all benefit from hearing good things about ourselves and sharing others' triumphs with them while we can still grow from the knowledge.
If nothing else, this book made me want to be more careful about the way I interact with other people not only so my memorial service will be a good one, but also so we can maybe help each other live this life a little more fully--so we can live in peace before we are laid to rest in peace.

Leaving the Harbor

I will officially graduate from college in three weeks and I finally have a clear vision of what I'll be doing for the next few months. I am officially the winter intern for the Liahona magazine. I will be working on the 24th floor of the Church Office Building, and helping to create an international magazine that will be published in 50 languages. That's right. My name will be published in 50 languages, and I am only about 35 people down the masthead from Thomas S. Monson. Beat that.

No, seriously though, I am super excited for this opportunity, and it is a huge blessing. I've dreamed about doing this internship since I first heard about it two years ago. Even though I really want to go on a mission, I decided that this was an opportunity I just couldn't pass up. I could only apply for it as a student, so this was my last chance. Elder Holland quoted someone saying "Never miss the opportunity of a lifetime by failing to seize it in the lifetime of the opportunity," and I didn't want to miss this one. I decided to apply and see what happened. I never really thought I would get it. These internships are some of the most competitive in my field, but I guess this is what I am supposed to be doing for now.
I'm really excited to move back to Salt Lake and work on Temple Square. I plan on doing baptisms at least once a week after work--the silver lining to the skirt and hose dress code--and hopefully make some more progress on my family history so I have some names to take to the temple. And when the time approaches to decide what to do with my life post internship, I will reassess.

I've realized that whether I get to serve a mission or not, there isn't really a better way I can use my talents to build God's kingdom than helping to get the word of the prophets to His children throughout the world. I get to serve and teach his children in 50 languages. How many missionaries can say that? Not even the ones who serve in the Philippines and learn 10 dialects can say that.
I'm still not sure what exactly I want to be doing for the rest of my life, but if it does involve a career, there couldn't be a better first step than the one I am about to take. A General Authority whose name I've already forgotten once spoke at a conference I attended and gave us young college students three questions to ask ourselves when choosing a career, and I've thought a lot about this lately and how my internship applies perfectly to it.

1. What do you enjoy?
Um, have you met me? Or read my blog?

2. What are you good at?
I guess I must have some editing talent, given the fact that I made it through the 3-stage, 2-month process of application for a Church magazine internship. I am the "most smartest connoisseur of the English language" after all.

3. What does the world need?
Can you think of anything the world needs more than the word of the Lord and His prophets?

So for now, and whatever happens in the next five months, I am so excited for my new job (and to be done with homework!). I will miss the Maxwell Institute and the wonderful people I've been able to rub shoulders with there. I will also really miss BYU and the wonderful harbor it has been for me, but as Elder Asay encouraged, I will eventually have to leave the safe harbor. It's time I set my sails and head off for the next adventure.

Wait for it, going, gone

Sometimes I think Pandora's song order is philosophical.

I must be that age.

Is it a bad sign when the first four items on your facebook news feed are
So and so is now married
So and so is now married
So and so is now married
So and so is now married
?

I'm only twenty! Give me a break!

Behind door number one...

I guess I'm getting on in years because everyone keeps asking me what I am going to do as soon as I graduate. I keep telling them I haven't even thought about it--it's still eight months away! The truth is, I've thought about it a lot. Probably too much--it's still eight months away! Every time I think about it I picture all of my many options as those brightly colored doors that are all over the British Isles, particularly Dublin. (I guess when you live in terraced housing, you have to do something to set your house apart from the neighbor, even down to the grout.)

Anyway, in my life, there are many doors just waiting for me to pick one. I basically know the labels on the doors, but I don't think I will ever really know what is behind them until I choose one.

Door #1: Mission. I'll be twenty-one in September,and it's an option. I just don't know yet.

Door #2: Grad school. Either in England if I want a real Elang program or somewhere here in the States if I want to settle for linguistics. However, after taking a graduate sociolinguistics class this semester and completing the fifteen page research paper for it, a master's program is starting to look less appealing. I loved sociolinguistics, I'm just not sure about writing one of those papers for every class...

Door #3:A real job/internship: I guess eventually I'll have to grow up and join the real world where people work forty hours a week. I'm just trying to hold off on that.

Door #4:Move home and be a sloth/move pipe. I think my parents would like this one--for about the first month. Okay maybe not an option.

Well those are my options.

Oh and I guess I am old enough to start thinking about eternal choices too. If that happens in the near future, I guess that may have some influence on which of these doors I choose to go with too.

See how hard it is to plan eight months in advance? So, for now, I haven't really thought about it--it's still eight months away!

The Goal

I am learning a lot by sitting in my little cubicle at the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship. I get to read and edit all kinds of religious articles and usually glean bits of wisdom from faithful scholars who know much more than I do. My job has inspired me to want to learn Hebrew and Greek because I am not very good at editing those currently, and I would love to be able to understand the scriptures better by understanding the languages they were written in. While I would love to learn every language, I have even loftier goals that are best articulated by this scripture I came across in one recent manuscript:

"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2:20)

Imagine if we were all so converted that Christ truly lived in us. That is the goal, to not only have His image in our countenance, but to truly become like Him. We can, through the Atonement of Christ, come to live for Him and as He would. I know it will take all I can give and then some, but that's a goal worth working toward.

Double Take?

Does this confuse anyone else?

It really is a wonderful life.

I watched one of my favorite Christmas movies last night, It's a Wonderful Life. As I watched it, it made me a little sad. George Bailey never gets to do anything he plans. He is stuck in Bedford Falls, tied down to the building and loan while all his friends and little brother go off to college and other great adventures. The stupid mistakes and evil choices of other people cause him so much unnecessary stress and struggle that he even contemplates and almost commits suicide. Of course, he is rescued by his guardian angel, Clarence, and thanks to his wife and the townspeople he realizes the moral of the story, that no man is a failure as long as he has friends.
As I watched this though, I couldn't help but think, how come, despite all his hard work, George Bailey can't seem to get anything to go his way and, I seem to have opportunities abounding? I just finished an amazing project for a Religion Professor at BYU, which led to an internship for the Neal A. Maxwell Institute of Religious Scholarship. I'm a little scared of the responsibility that comes with it but who knows what kind of opportunities that experience will lead to?
Life is Wonderful, the Lord provides, and I'm just thankful for all of my blessings even if I don't deserve them...

I Pretty Much Have the Best Life Ever.

Seriously. Life is good, life is great, life is wonderful! School is stressful sometimes but isn't everything that's worth doing? And then there are those days when you ace your semantics midterm and doesn't it just make it all worth it? I love my major, I love my minor, i could do without some of the GEs but I also enjoy those even if my teachers think it is alright to give us a paper a week and a midterm on top of that, plus all the normal reading of 40 page chapters for every class. Oh well, after this semester I am done with GEs and then it is just my beloved ELANG classes and then GRADUATION!
The end is in sight, still a year away, but getting closer. This is sad but also super exciting. Then on to bigger and better things. Like life. SCARY!! Maybe a mission, maybe a master's degree(if I can find a program in America or the funding to live in England for a few years) or maybe neither for a while. We shall see. For now I will just keep praying and studying and preparing for whatever the Lord decides to throw at me.

Sometimes I wish I could just know what was coming but unfortunately it doesn't work that way. It is scary how well our Heavenly Father knows each of us and lets us know that he knows us. Guess what I get to speak on this Sunday. A talk by Robert C. Oaks called the Power of Patience. How ironic. I thought I would make it a full bachelors degree at BYU without speaking once but I made the mistake of sitting behind the second counselor at ward prayer last week. So now in between the four papers and two tests I have within the next week I also get to learn a lesson about my least favorite virtue, aka poopy-poppy, and teach it to my ward.
I get the point- I'll stop complaining about my lack of time and my desire to know what the future holds.

I'm going there someday...

My little brother Peter is twelve years old. He is officially a sacrament-passer-dude now. He was so excited to get the Priesthood and to get his first temple recommend. In honor of his new responsibilities and because I am pretty much the best sister ever, Dad and Peter came down to Provo so I could go to the temple with them, for Peter's first time. Since I go to the MTC to act as an investigator for the French speaking missionaries every Wednesday, Dad and Peter picked me up after class and went to the MTC with me before we went to the temple. It was great! Dad speaks way better French than I do, but we had fun helping the missionaries. Even Peter remembered enough to say, "Je m'appele Pierre." The missionaries were impressed because they don't speak much more French than Peter. After we finished at the MTC we drove up to the Jordan River Utah Temple because the Provo Temple is always packed. It was a great experience going to the temple with my little brother and being baptized by my dad for our own family members. Dad had found names of our family from Boston, Lincolnshire, England from the 1800s. I have never been baptized for an Atkin before, and that was really neat. The spirit was there and we truly felt the joy of some of those people as we did their work for them, so that they can fully accept the gospel and progress. It was the best day ever, and I hope Peter remembers the spirit and joy we felt in the temple that day and continues to make it a part of his life.

I'm too young to have a blog...

At least that's what my friends tell me.  Apparently blogs are for old married people so their friends can see pictures of their kids.  But, on the other hand my sister tells me I need to post more.  So, for Aliza's sake (since you're the only one who reads this anyway) here I am, writing on my blog.  So to update it a little, I am still in Provo for Spring term.  Gotta love $100 rent and free tuition, although my two books still cost a small fortune.  I am taking Geology and English Grammar.  Believe it or not they are both much more interesting than they sound.  It's kind of fun licking rocks and diagramming sentences, or maybe I'm just a freak.  Either way I think I annoy my friends when I am studying for a test and start classifying the sidewalk or analyzing their sentences and emails...  I may never get over that, as my 11 year old brother wrote about me in his autobiography, I want to be an editor and I like telling people what they do wrong.  That's not strictly true anymore, because if I've learned anything in all my ELang classes it is that people don't appreciate having their language corrected.  It's the one thing about yourself you can't really change or fake, and it's revealing of who you are, so correcting their language is like telling them they shouldn't be themselves.  So I don't openly correct people but I do notice their interesting uses of the language, sorry, but it's okay because I am a descriptivist not a prescriptivist (sorry for the linguistic terms).  See here I go rambling about language again.  This happens a lot and I wonder why people get sick of hanging out with me?  Just kidding. I guess it is a good sign that I'm studying the right thing if I love it so much right?  

It's true, I love the English language so much that I am blowing all the money I don't have to spend 7 weeks in Great Britain where it all started.   I am starting to count down the days, 36 now I think, until I head off for the Shannon, Ireland airport.  I am super excited and don't know what to do.  I never thought I would actually get to study abroad but somehow it has all seemed to work out perfectly.  I am going to take Varieties of English and History of the English Language while I am there, and apparently our homework assignments are things like "go talk to people" and "go visit the Oxford English Press."  I finally got the itinerary for the trip and one of the nights we are staying in the Clifton hostel and we are going to visit Preston and Oxford, so it really doesn't seem like I am going that far from home.  We also get to visit Wales and Scotland, and I just bought a ticket for a weekend in Barcelona, Spain, mostly so I can say I've been to more countries than my sister or my dad.  I've been compiling a list of all the places I want/need to go while in Great Britain including but not limited to:  Worcestershire (I want to buy some authentic sauce and figure out how to pronounce it), Abbey Road, Preston and London Temples, and many more.  I also realized I will be in London when the 6th Harry Potter Movie comes out!

Another reason I am so excited for this trip is because the British Isles (England, Wales, Scotland) are where most of my family originated, save the German line and possibly a little French.  More specifically my Little Grandma, Lilly Annie Cross Atkin.  She is my dad's grandma and she was born and raised in Croydon, a borough of London.  I recently stole her memory book from my Grandma Atkin and have been scouring it for places I need to go see while I am in her hometown.  I also typed up her personal history and scanned all the pictures she has of the one trip she took back to England in 1955, as well as many other random pictures of her life after joining the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and coming to America.  A list I've compiled of places I need to go see for my grandma includes her sister Elsie's house(which I found on Google Earth, it is still there), The London Temple where she shook hands with David O. McKay at the groundbreaking in 1955, and the cemetery in Croydon where her parents and grandparents are buried.  Also, in doing this research for London I discovered that my great-grandma was confirmed a member of the Church in 1910 in London by an Elder Robert T. Petty from Oxford, Idaho, who later married my best friend Esther Beutler's grandpa's cousin, Rose Beutler.  I discovered this when I found their graves in the Oxford Cemetery.  Small world, eh?  Oh well, maybe noone else finds this interesting, but if you do, I will try to keep you posted on my adventures in the beautiful British Isles and in my quest to find my heritage.