Boxes upon Boxes!

Welcome to Junior Nursery! This is the tower we built after all the children left today.  It was awesome to have nearly a dozen children sitting in two boxes.  They were so entertained by the big boxes we got with our new furniture and a few smaller boxes from Janell's work.  We're curious what would happen when the singing time leader comes in to sing with the children and they are all sitting in a circle, each in their own box, rather than on the chairs.  The nursery kids like us so much that they start to cry when their parents come to get them. Will the boxes still be there when we come back for nursery next week, or will the building cleanup group have thrown them out, or will another ward's nursery children have destroyed them? 

Leaves!

This is what happens when you think you're done raking. I had them all cleaned up yesterday afternoon! It's a good thing they are pretty.

Janell at Work (Episode 2)

A month or so ago I was made a team leader. This last Friday I experienced one of the joys of this position. It was in question all day whether or not a particular individual on my team would earn the week bonus. When I informed him that he had, he got giddy and replied that if I needed him to stay and help a bit longer, he could. A little surprised that he would offer when he was so anticipating leaving early, I told him I could always use more help if he really wanted to stay. He replied, "No, you're supposed to say, 'Oh, how sweet of you to offer, but you should go and enjoy your weekend. You've been working so hard this week.'" This made my day, as it reminded me of my siblings--sweet-talking to put words in my mouth when I was put responsible and they needed my permission.

Decorating for Fall

We picked our corn and used the stalks to decorate.

Janell at Work [Episode 1]

At work today, I went upstairs to find some files and there was an IT guy who followed me up and told me that in his years of working there, I was the first girl he's seen run up the stairs.  I told him, "I love stairs, I love skipping, I love getting to move."

During lunch, I went and found a picnic table to eat and read and call Victor, I was talking with Victor, and there was three girls behind me at another table who were talking about relationships.  One of the girls asked the other girl, "Are you nervous to move in with him before you're married? ...I'm not meaning to get in the middle of your relationship...  Everybody loves talking about relationships."
I feel sick that she's moving in with her boyfriend.  As I was half listening and talking with Victor on the phone, I was trying to gather my courage to say something to the girls.  I said goodbye to Victor and remember that when your words are said with love, you shouldn't worry about offending.  I started packing up my lunch, and then found that they were packing up their lunches. I asked them, "So I was talking with my husband on the phone, I was not trying to eaves drop, but the little bit that I heard was that one of you is moving in with her boyfriend."  She affirmed it and then I said, "I studied family marriage studies in college, and learned how moving in with someone without commitment first can lead to problems later on in the relationship." And then asked their names and where they worked, they worked the same place I did.  I told them who I was.  As they were leaving, one said to the other, "well studies show..." That helped me realize how people think that they can always be the exception.  It took courage to warn her about her choice.

Anna who sits next to me, we were in the lunch room together and she complemented me that I'm always cheerful.