Grateful Aunt

This week in institute we started reading in Joshua, Tuesday insititute is my favorite class. I love the teacher, and the other students in the class. Every Tuesday, I get filled with spiritual food and I know the other students do to! People always have comments and they are very inspired in their comments. Every tuesday someone is crying, because they feel the Spirit, pretty much amazing!!!
Well anyways, the first chapter of Joshua is Christ speaking to Joshua (Joshua being the prophet after Moses). Christ seems to mainly focus on COURAGE and FAITH in this chapter, my favorite verses in it seem to emphasis that point a LOT. Here are the verses I like in chapter 1: 5,6,9 the mostly talk about how Christ is with us and for us to be brave. I also like verse sixteen it is the people talking to Joshua saying they will follow him (in my margins I wrote follow the prophet). So, really good chapter and a great class!
Brother Miller challenged us this week to write a list every night of things we are grateful for! What a great thing to do. I am excited to try it. I haven't been doing it very well at all so far.... but it has got me thinking and tonight I WILL do it!! I also talked to my sister Emma about doing it, and I hope she does aswell.
After class I went to Emma's house to visit and play with my niece Brynlie, and then that night I watched Brynlie so Emma and Austin could go on a date. Thats when I decided I wanted to write a blog entry about how grateful I am to be an aunt, and to have such a wonderful niece!!!!

Brynlie Rain Hammer was born Oct 8, 2009. She brought with her this fantastic personality that is impossible to not love!!  I don't know how, or what we did in the preexistence to deserve her. I sometimes wonder what I did to deserve the wonderful family I have.
Brynlie is two years old and so smart, she is potty trained, talking in full sentences, and learns faster then I do! She has a great sense of humor and generally a happy kid and has been her whole life. Brynlie is pretty funny because, she is a bit of a stinker. She basically knows the rules of her house and yet she still pushes her limits pretty far. The bad thing is she does it in such a funny, and cute way we tend to let her get away with it.
Although we do spoil her a lot, the amazing thing is she is still so polite and a good girl. I think Heavenly Father knew we would love any spirit who joins are family, so He gave us one that isn't spoilt by being spoiled!
I am so, so, so, grateful for my niece. I love her so much and she makes me happy everytime I am with her! I love that she lives close to me for the next two months! I am so glad I have been able to watch her go from a baby to a toddler, and I can't wait to keep watching her grow! In the spring Emma is going to have another baby and I cannot wait! I can't believe how lucky I am that I get Brynlie and will get another niece or nephew. I come from a large family so I know I will have tons YAY!!!
Being a nanny, aunt and big sister I have found the importance the each individual spirit brings. I have really become aware, and grateful for each persons differences in personalities. I know how important it is to be a good example to those younger then us.
I hope my nieces and nephews know how much I love them, and will love them. I hope they know I will always be there for them, willing to help. I say this particularly to Brynlie because, she is the only one I know so far! I hope she realizes how much I love her sweet and funny personality! I couldn't ask for a better niece.
Anyways thats my little gratitude blog for the week. I just feel so grateful for Brynlie this week and I will miss her when they move away.

Love Clancy

Love affair with music!!

So this week I learned how to post videos from youtube onto facebook. Such a proud moment in my life!! When I figured this out I wanted to share some music I love, so I dug into the youtube videos and found myself getting that thrill I feel everytime I hear a good song!! Oh how I love music!! I love all kinds of music, Piano, broadway, classical (some), pop, Indie, ANY genres really!!!
Its amazing the emotions music can stir up inside of me, and I am sure for others aswell. You have your workout music, cry music, happy, or excited music. I know you all know what I am talking about! I am so glad there is music on this earth! I cannot imagine not having music in my life. Sometimes I wish I had background  music to my life, sorta like in the movies. I think it would make life so much more interesting!
Last night I had to oppertunity to play the piano at church, just for fun. It was so so nice!!! I miss playing the piano. I love sitting there and looking at these fantastic notes people had written down and turned into amazing pieces of music! I am pretty shy about playing the piano for people, because I know I am not as good as I want to be. I compare myself so much to all those fantastic piano players out there.
Comparing = BAD habit, I really need to get rid of!! It blocks my self confidence, and my ability to grow and advance myself. ANYWAYS, I  got over that and played around my friend which was great. It was nice to show my very simple talent, but a talent that I worked VERY hard for. I taught myself how to play the piano (something I'll always be grateful for) and so it was fun to show what I had learned from hard practice and discipline.
 I am so impressed everyday by the talents people have and share with people. It is so humbling to see others and their gifts that they have. I am so grateful for technology, because I can research and look up beautiful music.  I love that when I am very much needing to hear certain music I can look it up and listen to it. I need this for emotional comfort, or because I am excited and music seems the only thing to express what I am feeling!!
OH MUSIC, MUSIC MUSIC!!!! how I LOVE it!!!! We are so blessed to be able to have something so wonderful in our lives!!! I know Heavenly Father blessed us with the gift of music. He knew we needed it! But this also puts us in a responsible place, because he has blessed us with something so great. Our responsibilty is to use it for good things, and in good ways. I know I am not perfect at this AT all, but I do try to avoid music with innappropriate languages and bad messages. On sundays I try to listen to good and uplifting music so that I can really feel the spirit.
I am so very THANKFUL for you music, its like the song from ABBA "So I say,thank you for the music, for giving it to me." So true that is!!!
I hope you all go out and listen to some great songs today!!
Love Clancy

I refuse!!!

I refuse, to accept the fact that I have an ouchy cavity that needs to be taken care of. I so do not want to spend money on a silly tooth!!! I don't even know if I have health insurance any more, it that is the case then yikes!!! My camera just completely broke and this small bundle of funds I have I am putting in for another camera. I refuse to spend that money on my tooth. Goodness gracious, we talked about the plan of salvation at institute the other day. This of course invovled talking about the resurrection. Yep excited for that no dentist bills, strike me dead, but not till after I get my camera!
Anyway those are my thoughts as of right now, mostly cause I just brushed my teeth and my tooth is a slight irritation. It has been a busy couples of weeks full of nannying, church and school. I taught the lesson on thursday for school YIKES!!! I was very nervous I am not a very good stand in front of a group and present something type person. Not only that but my friend Audrey found out I was teach (why do I tell people things) and she came to watch! While I loved the support and the fact she wanted to watch me teach, I didn't want to let her down. So what does that mean?  MORE PRESSURE!! The lesson actually went fairly well even though I was quiet nervous. During my review of the lesson they said they couldn't even tell I was nervous, except for the fact I messed my hair up which I do sometimes when I feeling a little pressured! the best thing about being stressed over something is when it ENDS!!
I am learning that more and more as time goes on, that my Father in Heaven knows me and he does want me to succeed and grow. I love that fact. I love my Savior! I love that although I don't have a dad on earth who is capable of guiding me, I have a Father in Heaven who is the perfect Father!! How blessed I am to know this!!
On sunday I went with some friends of mine to the Mormon Battalion in Old Town San Diego. I came early with my friend Jozel, and while we were waiting for our other friends we watched the Joseph Smith movie. I of course weeped over this as I usually do. But some things came to mind while I was watching it. I always think of Joseph as such a hero to me as "all knowing" almost. But while watching the movie I realized how little he did know and how much our Father taught him!  Joseph didn't know a family is forever, he didn't know about the word of wisdom.
I know these are silly thoughts that everyone has probably thought of, but to me it was so humbling to think about. Its humbling for me to remember how blessed we are to have the true church of Christ on the earth today. What made me be chosen to be so blessed to be on earth at this time and to be born with the knowlege I have?!  I am so very lucky to have been born into this knowledge, whereas my hero Joseph Smith didn't learn these truths until he was in adulthood!
So those are some of my thoughts and feelings. I have been up since six AM because of somethings going on with my nanny family (explain at a later date). I am tired it has been a long day, but those thoughts I had  to write down, I had to get some of these things written down so I could remember. I hope I never forget what I have been learning lately. I hope I will always remember my Savior and how He influences my life!! I could never do this without Him. He is my Iron rod, He is my goal. I want to return to my Heavenly Father and brother Jesus Christ. I want to hug them and thank them for being part of my life!
Now I am heading to bed so tired and grateful right now!!

Events

Oh so many thoughts running through my head, with nothing in particular to say I thought I would just share my thoughts, my happenings and all that la dee da stuff.

*Ok, this weekend. Friday tended for a couple hours that was fun we went to the park and hid in bushes. Why were we in bushes? because we were hiding from "bad guys." No worries we got rid of them, just threw a bunch of bombs at them (pinecones.)
I then went to the mall for a bit to unsuccesful shop hmmmm. I then went and picked up this great gal Jozel so we could go to Wal Mart and pick up a card for another great gal going on a mission. Awesome enough we ran into my sister, brother in law and niece!!! That was great! I love seeing familiar people in unfamiliar places! and also I just love seeing people I LOVE!
Jozel and I then proceeded or are missionary friends farewell party (maybe a little/lot late). After that a bunch of us went to a stake dance, we only got to about an hour of that because we were late. Which I am totally fine with because my dancings skills are NOT skills they are more like a freaky nightmare or maybe a comedy a pathetic comedy. It was still fun though, I know how to be a good sport! I got home at around two AM, grabbed my purse upside down so all the contents fell out. The hard thing about this situation is that I don't have lights in the car so I had to feel around in the dark. This sorta got me freaked out.

*Ok, friday nights events were very fun!! Saturday was more relaxed I just stayed home. I then went to a relief society service project and dinner with my sister. Then we listened to the relief society broadcast. So So nice!!! The choir was excellent, I felt the spirit so stronly through the music. My favorite speaker was Elder Uchdorf, he gave a wonderful talk on five very important steps. I don't remember each step so I won't tell you what they are. But he talked about the flowers "Forget me Nots" he used them as a metaphor throughout his talk. One of my favorite things he talked about was enjoying the "now" He talked about making the wait for our Golden ticket (Willy Wonka reference) an enjoyable one. He talked about not being grudging if you don't get exactly what you want, if your ideals weren't perfect.  Overall a good Saturday!!

I am so glad it was a busy weekend! I love being busy. But I also enjoy a quiet moment or two, like part of the day today was mellow. It gave me time to gather my thoughts and take a moment to myself. I think it is important to be busy and know what your boundaries are and when to take a rest!!! I am getting to that point pretty quick here!! I had a late night, and an early morning, and a busy week!
Goodnight!

Best Friends!!

Best friends are a wonderful thing! They are so much fun and you can build such great memories with them!! As time changes people change and so do situations. A lot of my best friends have gotten married, or I no longer live near them, but they are still so important to me. I wish nothing but the best for them! And I love hearing what they are up to!! Of course I love hearing from all people! But I especially love hearing from those that I have built a great foundation of friendship with.
I love when I am with my best friends. I love laughing with them, and doing crazy fun things you only do around the people you are most comfortable with. I love inside jokes. I also love and am so grateful for the fact that me and my friends urge eachother to be better. Thats what a friend is, somone who encourages you to reach your full potential. I feel like I am a better person because of the great influences of my friends. I am so glad that I have had friends to talk to and go to when I needed help. I love having friends that you hang out with all the time, even when you just go on errands or are studying. Somehow you can make things enjoyable because you enjoy your time together.
I have been thinking about that a lot lately. Being a new place you tend to really miss people who have been in your life.  I miss hanging out with my friends late at night into the early morning. I miss the kind of friends that can sit and watch a movie with you and quote it. I miss the kind of friends that when they haven't seen you even just a couple days call and text you to hang out or to check up on you. I miss having best friends nearby. Or I guess I miss being near my best friends.
Seeing other people with their best friends can make me feel pretty lonely. Its hard jumping into a new situation and making new best friends. Heck it is sometimes hart just making friends!! its scary to invite people to hang out to strike up the conversation. You risk the possibility of rejection, but you also give yourself the oppertunity to make some wonderful friends!!!
We are so blessed to have friends on this earth. We all need good friends, best friends. Everyone needs those special in people in life for support. Not only for support but for fun times and good memories! I hope everyone tries to be friends with everyone. Give people a chance, if you don't you may be missing out on something very special.

School!!

Last week was my first week of school. It was also the least stressful week of school I have ever had. I normally take 15 credits and work part time. This semester is 5 credits online and partime job. I was going to USU and now I am going to BYU online (yes I am a "betrayer"). I am really excited about this semester, because... 1. it will be easier then normal (I think) 2. It was deffinately cheaper! 3. BYU basis so much of its education around the Gospel!! Isn't that wonderful? to learn through the gospel!!
 This week one of the assignments was reading some chapters by Henry B. Eyring (who I am related to). It was about gaining a "higher education" and about the competitive world we live in. It was kind of a scary read! It made me realize how hard I have to work to be successful in my education and career!! I have a hard time in school so for me to be successful I am gonna have to live and breath school, once I start taking more credits again! This weeks I have done alright and hopefully I will keep my grades better and better!
I think this BYU program is one of the main reasons I need to be here. I know Heavenly Father wants me to get all the education I can. I was having a hard time in USU and not being as succesful as I would like. I think this new school and new start will bring up my motivation again. I know I was beginning to loose and about ready to give up. I hope I will keep having this desire and I don't get burnt out again!!! 
Heavenly Father presents us with so many oppertunities, and He provides us with ways to learn and grow. I sometimes have a hard time recognizing the things though. I hope I get better at noticing those things, at being spiritually prepared and aware. I want to be able to feel the Holy Ghost and my Saviors love much more then I have been.
I am so grateful for the oppertunity He has presented me with in this school. I feel like this school will be a great and better way for me personally to get my education. I have been struggling to much in school and it has been so frusterating!! I really hope I can do better. I have been trying so hard in the past to do good in school, and without success. Maybe with a new approach I can do better. I hope that I can meet the goals that I have been working on for ages that I seem to not be able to reach.
This is going to be an interesting semester!! Wish me luck!!!

You know you are a nanny when.

So tonight while I was at FHE I got a voicemail. This voicemail was a sweet little mom asking about her sons poo today. YES his poo, he has been having allergies, so they cut milk out to see if that was the reason for his upset stomache. So she gave me a call asking me how her sons diaper was. Yep that is how my voicemails tend to be. (If you are groessed out by this sorry, I am groessed out changing diapers I just deal with it.) You deffinately know when you tend to much when you get voicemails from mothers asking how their sons bowel movements were.
You also know your a nanny when.... You have stuffed animals and toys in your bed you trip on toys going up the stairs. And you can't go to the restroom without the question of "what are you doing in there?"   You loose your voice from reading books out loud. Your attention span starts getting as short as the kids you care for. The question you answer most is the good ole question "why" (goodness I am so sick of that question). 
The most common phrases you hear are things like this.....
* "your mean"
*"can I sit on your lap?"
*"can you help me with homework?" (this can happen at anytime even at 6:30 AM)
*"when I grow up"
*"when I was a baby"
*"can you button my pants"
*"can you take me to the park"
* "Hold my hand"
* "I am scared can I sleep in your bed?"
Be warned future nannies out there!! Haha just kidding!!
 caring for children is a wonderful thing, I feel so much better prepared for when I am a mom. I feel like I have learned patience, and understanding.  I love being needed and giving others what they can't give themselves yet.  I love getting to know the kid and finding out his/her personality, and what works best for them.  I love teaching, and seeing a child finally learn something!! ( way too adorable how excited they can get).
I love that I am relearning to forgive as a child does. I am grateful that I am learning to slow down and listen to others concerns.  I love that when I am sleepy its ok if I say dumb things because kids don't need to have an intelligent conversation with me (thank goodness for that).  I am so grateful the Scriptures teach us to become as little children. They teach me things everyday!!!  Today while tending some kids the four year old bit the three year old HARD!!! and she came to me for some comfort.  . But this sweet little girl forgave him!! she just hugged him and said it was ok. While she was a little more cautious around him, she had no harsh feelings. I love these lessons we learn!!!!
Todays lesson and goal is to work on forgiveness!!! Christ atoned for ALL our sins!!! He made it possible for us to repent for what we did and improve. He did this for me and EVERYONE!!!  Children are so good at accepting and forgiving. We can all follow their example in this!  We are all imperfect. So we all should be able to be quickly to forgive, and understand that we all make mistakes!!!! (This is easier said then done I know)  But don't you love that??? thinking we all have our own issues to improve!!! It makes life interesting, it gives us character.  It helps us learn to be sympathetic, and confident. Confidence comes from hard work and improvement I think.
Of course everything I say is my opinion. I am not sure who will read this, but I like putting these thoughts down for me to look back on and remember.
Love Clancy

Lessons from going to the park

I have been learning a lot lately about picking your battles with children. When to be stubborn, when to teach, when to let a child go off and just learn from an experience. The other day I was walking to take the two little boys I nanny to the park (Nathan age 4 and Josh age 6). They asked me a if they could climb up and down a big hill. My first instincts was NO WAY I don't want to "deal" with the hassle of managing how many times, and then fighting with them when they were to be done. Last time they had asked this I said now and they had a big fit , that turned into the threat of "I will never take you to the park in this behavior" and tears from them. So this time I thought "hmmmmm maybe if I just relax and take fifteen minutes extra to let them explore it will be easier" . I am glad I had this thought because it was!!! they climbed up and down the hill a few times, (I gave them a certain amount of times they could do this). and then we left. NO tears NO threats, and GOOD happy boys!!!
This made me think about life aswell. How in life sometimes we tend to make a battle or a drama, or put in the victim card. A lot of things that happen in our lives are, our choices. Sometimes we need to just sit back relax , and not make something more then it is. Life is to be enjoyed, it is for learning and growing. Life is also HARD why on earth would we want to make the choice and cause the drama and make it harder?? I remember hearing Gordon B. Hinkley talking about how we are supposed to be a happy people. I truely believe this. I also believe that we should shape our lives around helping other people and supporting them in their decisions to be happy. As I said life is hard, everyone needs love and support and we need to give it to them! As a nanny I find that being a positive rewarder is better then being a negative punisher. The kids tend to be happier and more independent in themselves.
Its amazing how life teaches us and how we can have moments to think and remember whats importants. Even if the reminder is letting a child climb up and down a hill!!! Life is really an interesting thing! I hope I will always learn and find lessons in life. I want to be the best I can be when I leave this earth!!
Clancy

New Blogger

I usually keep people up to date with statuses on facebook. BUT I think that is less detail and I know some of my relatives want MORE detail. I like to write and am happy to oblige. Right now I am living in Chula Vista California. I am a part time nanny and part time student. I will be starting school on 09/12/11, I am so so stoked for this!! I haven't been to school in ages, and I am so excited to be learning and growing. This will be a great challenge to start up!  and yet a simpler one because I normally go to school full time so hopefully school grades will be easier to maintain!
I was nannying in New York this spring so moving here to California has been quite a different experience. Especially because before I nannied full time and am now going only part time. I have been so blessed to be able to live and participate in two wonderful families! I hope that I am a good influence in their lives as they have been in mine.
Adjusting to new enviroments and new people is always a challenge. My biggest challenge right now is building up friendships, and a social life. But I am up for this challenge, and I hope people are open to getting to know me and are patient with me as I learn to adjust in this new place!! I have been missing my family more, then when I am usually away. I think it is because my last time with them during this summer, I saw how OLD my siblings are getting. STOP GROWING it makes me sad I want them to forever stay young and small. But then I also find that my relationship with them is stronger. I know now that we can have mature conversations , and they are some of my best friends. I am so truly grateful for my brothers and sisters and I miss them so much!!
I am sort of just babbling now, it is weird starting up a blog!! But I am excited even if no one reads this it will be my "journal" of sorts.  Yep life is full of little adventures even if its just learning how to blog!
Happy day to all!!!
Clancy