30 Day Challenge: Day 4

 

Dad at the Kanesville Tabernacle during their mission to Winter Quarters

Today's challenge is to talk about my parents. Mom and Dad have been the most wonderful example in my life. They have shown me what love is. They have taught me the gospel and shown me how to grow my own testimony. I was able to go through the temple for the first time with them while they were serving their first mission in Winter Quarters.

Mom is an artist. She sketches and paints, sews and quilts, and she taught me how to play the piano. She is very patient. She put up with my tantrums when I didn't want to practice or have my piano lessons. She is a wonderful teacher, though we had different learning styles that made it difficult for her to help me with my work. She gets exited about the smallest accomplishments we achieve. It's easy to see how much she loves each of her children and grandchildren. Mom is always there when I need someone to talk to. She'll listen and really care about what is going on in my life, no matter how trivial it seems. She has taught me to take care of myself. I remember being sick when I was younger. I would go to her and tell her, "I don't feel good." Her response would be, "I don't know what to tell you, honey." She let me learn for myself how to nurse myself back to health. I value those lessons that helped me to become more independent.

    Mom at home this morning

Dad has never been a very affectionate man. Hugs from him are rare, but when they come, you can feel the full power of his love in them. It's rare for him to say out loud that he loves you, but he has never failed to make me feel loved. I know of his love from the concern he puts into my well-being. When there are problems, Dad can fix them. He can always give me the advice I need. I am grateful that he takes his responsibilities as a priesthood holder seriously and lives a righteous life so that when I need comfort or guidance that only our Father in Heaven can provide, I know I can ask for a blessing. Dad has a dry sense on humor that can take some getting used to. He gets it from his dad and has passed it on to many of his kids. He would do anything for Mom. It's easy to see the love he holds for her. There is a quote that says, "A man can do nothing more for his children than to love his wife." My dad is the perfect example of this quote, and has done more than words can say for his children.

30 Day Challenge: Day 3

Okay, today is about my first love. Romantically speaking, I have never been in love. I have dated a little, but never felt "in love" with anyone. I have had deep feelings for these individuals, but they have been no more than the love I would feel for a friend. I know the time will come, hopefully soon, when I will find my eternal companion. But for now, I guess I will just have to settle with my love of my parents, siblings, nieces, nephews, etc. They were the first recipients of my love on this earth. That love grew to include my friends, peers, teachers, guides, and the children I teach in primary. I have felt many different kinds of love, with different levels of depth, for many people in my life. I would have to say that I have a great love for the animals I have had. An animal's love is so unconditional that you can't help but love them back.

Going into a religious view of things, I suppose my very first love would be that for my Heavenly parents. Though I cannot remember them, I have learned about them here on earth and have formed a relationship through prayer. I can see the love that my parents have for our Heavenly Father, and have learned from them how to come to know for myself of His existence and to know of His love. A greater love there will never be.

30 Day Challenge: Day 2

Today is the meaning behind my blog's name. Close to four years ago I got my fist dog, a chocolate lab. She is a pure blooded lab and I wanted to register her with the AKC.The AKC requires three names on the papers. I already knew I wanted to name her Naphtali. Seeing as I love music, I loved the sound of Naphtali's Melody. I couldn't think of a third name, so I simply named her Amanda's Naphtali Melody.  So, that is how my blog got its name. Naphtali is a name from the bible. It is Hebrew and means "to struggle". It is one of the twelve tribes of Israel. I call her Tali for short, pronounced Tall-e. This is one of my favorite pictures of her:

30 Day Challenge: Day 1

Today I am supposed to post a recent photo and tell you 15 interesting facts about myself. So, here is my recent photo, taken this morning:

And here are 15 interesting facts about me:

1. I make jewelry

2. I carve stamps to plant for letter boxing

3. I've taught Primary for six years and absolutely love it.

4. I've played the piano since I was five or six years old.

5. I played the violin in 5th and 6th grade, then switched to the viola. I continued to play the viola through Jr. High and High School, but I haven't played either instrument much since.

6. I love to sing. Yep, I'm one of those weirdos who sings along with the music in the grocery store. Out loud.

7. I have a logical side, some people have called me an "extreme literalist."

8. I love to travel. I have been to a few different countries, including Germany, France, Austria, Italy, Canada, and Mexico. I have also been to at least half of the states in the U.S.

9. I'm good at math, though not geometry. I struggle with science, though not chemistry. Go figure.

10. I'm very stubborn.

11. I'm a major homebody. It's not that I don't like going out, because I do, it's just that I love to relax at home with my family.

12. I'm shy. I've gotten good at forcing myself to come out of my shell, but it is VERY uncomfortable for me to do so. If I know you well, I have no problem, but strangers...

13. I have a vocational degree in Interior Decorating.

14. I've never broken a bone in my body. Don't get me wrong, I've done some stupid things in my life, I've just been lucky enough to never break a bone. Knock on wood.

15. I have a niece who is 10 1/2 months older than I am. She also made me a great aunt at the age of 20.

That was easier than I thought it would be. My mind didn't blank until the very end. Until tomorrow.

30 Day Blog Challenge

Okay, so I've gotten really bad at keeping up with my blog. I saw on my sister's blog that she is starting this and I thought this would be a great way to keep me motivated.

Here is a list of the days:

Day 0: The 30 Day Challenge Explanation and Description

Day 1: Introduce, recent picture of yourself, 15 interesting facts

Day 2: Meaning behind your blog name

Day 3: Your first love----

Day 4: Your parents

Day 5: A song to match your mood

Day 6: A picture of something that makes you happy

Day 7: Favorite movies

Day 8: A place you've traveled to

Day 9: A favorite picture of your best friend

Day 10: Something you're afraid of

Day 11: Favorite tv shows

Day 12: Something you don't leave the house without

Day 13: Goals

Day 14: A picture of you last year - how have you changed?

Day 15: Bible verse

Day 16: Dream house

Day 17: Something you're looking forward to

Day 18: Favorite Place to Eat

Day 19: Something you miss

Day 20: Nicknames

Day 21: Favorite Picture of yourself ALL TIME Why?

Day 22: What's in your purse?

Day 23: Something you crave

Day 24: Something you've learned

Day 25: Put your iPod on shuffle, first 10 songs

Day 26: Your Dream Wedding

Day 27: Original Photo of the city you live in

Day 28: Something that stresses you out

Day 29: 3 Wishes

Day 30: a picture of yourself this day and 5 good things that happened since you started the challenge

Day 0 is done! Though, since you don't actually start counting with 0, have I really even accomplished anything? Sorry, just my logical side coming out. This should be interesting, and hopefully fun. I hope you all learn something new about me, and I hope I will, too. We don't stop to question ourselves enough. Well, until tomorrow!

Planting Letterboxes

On Saturday, Carma and I went for a little hike in the foothills behind Hillside Jr. High to hide a series of seven letterboxes that I had made. The weather was perfect for our activity and our dogs enjoyed getting away from the snow and ice at home. We had a lot of fun hiding the boxes, though there isn't much to hide them in up there but sagebrush. The foothills provide a nice view of Boise with the snow covered Owyhee Mountains in the background. We couldn't resist taking a couple of pictures.

We had a good time hiding the boxes. There were times we had to be a little careful because of other hikers that were close by. One lady even stopped to talk to us and seemed a little confused as to what we were doing. We had come up from a little gully a little ways from the trail. She seemed to think we were doing training exercises with our dogs, and we didn't feel a need to correct her. Sometimes it's harder to explain letterboxing to curious onlookers than it is to just let them come up with their own explanations as to what you're doing. We want to go back this weekend with Joyce when she's here to see if my clues make any sense at all. I think we'll go without our dogs though. Stamping letterboxes with dogs around isn't always easy.

Big bro is back/Letterboxing plans

Okay, sorry. Going too long between posts is starting to become a habit. I just haven't been doing much that, in my mind, is worthy of sharing.

My brother and his family have moved back to Boise! They are actually moving into their new place today! I haven't gone to see them yet, but hope to do so soon. My brother was in the army and has been living in Colorado for the last few years. The last time I saw him was about six years ago, just before Mom and Dad went on their first mission. I've only seen pictures of my great nephew and can't wait to meet the little cutie in person.

Now that the weather is starting to get better and the sun has made more appearances, I'm going to plant a series of letterboxes on Saturday. Carma and I will bring the dogs down for a ride and some hikes while I find a good place to hide the seven boxes I have for my series. I've had the stamps carved for a few months now, and I was just waiting for it to warm up a little before I planted them. I will be busy the next couple of nights getting the logbooks made up and the actual boxes camouflaged a little so that non-letter boxers, or muggles, don't accidentally find them and move or take them.