gina prescott

this blog needs a makeover.
currently i have about ZERO time to do anything.

Kyle and I moved in with the grandparents, after we lived with a family friend for about a week so that Kyle could finish teaching seminary in the morning. So this is what happens when you have to move out of a place, can’t move into the other, and have to live at another.

MASS CHAOS. I now know where NOTHING is. HOORAY!

I have been going through the same 5 outfits for about 3 weeks now. It’s pretty disgusting. I can’t get to any of my clothes because of my husband. I love the man, but sometimes he doesn’t quite think through his projects. As we were moving all of our boxes and such into my grandparents we were designated a space in their living room. Well Kyle decided to condense the space as much as possible. He just piled it higher and tighter until it was nice and compact. The problem…..

All of the important stuff is in the middle and the bottom. It is impossible to reach. I don’t think either of us really has the heart to attempt and dismantle the pile. We will have to eventually. Maybe in a couple of months…..

So instead of attempting to tackle the pile like a good wife, I come home after a grueling day of playing at the beach with a 2 year-old and crash.

At work I have time (2 and 3 hour blocks) where I have nothing to do but read, text, sleep, and think while Isabella sleeps. This is when I think about the pile. I am sure it gets bigger in my mind each time. I will post a picture as soon as possible.

Thinking time also led me to ponder about my blog. Why it exists. What do I want out of it? I texted my friend Kristin telling her I wanted a new blog. A new me. With lots of comments. HA!

Kind of ridiculous. Who wants to hear the rants of a 21 year old nanny? I wouldn’t. In the meanwhile I will continue to deliberate on what my new blog could look like. How I would inspire people. How everyone would send me lovely comments. Sigh…..

Maybe in a week?

I don’t really know what to write about. Hence the absence of posts lately.

I had a pretty rough week. Who knew that life could get harder after school?

Saturday was one of the most intense days of my life. I needed it. I needed to be reminded of all my weaknesses and all I have been blessed with.

I made the stupid mistake of going to a party Friday night when I had to be up at 3:50am to be ready and at the temple at 5am. I love working at the temple. It is one of the greatest highlights of each week.

The temple is amazing. Serving in the temple makes everything better. You see the Lord’s work progressing powerfully forward. The dedication of so many saints and their spirits brightens my day.

Well I also told my employer that I would work on Saturday to make up for this coming Friday that they will be gone. BAD IDEA.

I was so tired. Had so little patience. I did not want to be there. I wanted to be spending time with my hubby or sleeping. Sleeping was the more realistic outcome.

After 6 hours of watching a cranky 21 month old. I had worked 11 hours straight. She did take a 2 hour nap where I might have dozed off a few times. But her nap isn’t always a real break. Why? Because her dad is still at home and is always walking around and I feel like I should be doing something productive, at least reading, and so I had to remain slightly conscious. It only made me more cranky.

Well immediately after nannying I headed over to my good friend Kristin Avery’s to get ready for her hors d’eouver party. I had decided I would make spring rolls. I bought raw shrimp thinking it was cooked. I decided to make the shrimp rolls before the veggie rolls and contaminated everything. Kyle discovered the contamination because he is taking a microbiology seminar on bacterias and he knows ALL about contamination and e coli and all that jazz.

I was so embarrassed which turned into humiliation which turned me into a recluse. I was tired and cranky. I felt stupid and silly. Eventually I made my way back to feeling normal. I came out of my shell and ate the other uncontaminated delicious food.

I eventually fell into hysterical laughter and then crashed on the floor. When Kyle finally got me to get up….I looked like a mess.

I fell asleep instantly when we got home.

Sunday brought the recollection of how I acted and how ungrateful I had been throughout the day. I am greatful for a knowledge of the plan of salvation, for the doctrine of salvation, for a belief of Christ’s words that he can make my weaknesses into strengths and that ultimately if I strive to do my best, repenting along the way when I don’t, and gradually grow. I will gain eternal life.

What a sweet blessing. Am I right or what?

Yesterday evening I wanted to listen to the song “your love is my drug” by Ke$ha. It’s a silly song, but I like the beat. It makes me want to get up an dance.

That is just what I did. Kyle joined me.

We danced together. I loved every minute of it.

I love the end of the day when Kyle is done with homework, seminary prep, work. All the bajillion things to do.

Because then I get undivided attention time. I relish in it.

Sometime I think married life can be a little dull in Seattle (there aren’t many couples in your situation, with your type of schedule)…but then I have spontaneous dance parties with my husband in my bedroom and I think….

I doesn’t get much better than this.

My posts have been a bit on the serious side lately.

What can I say? I am ALL business.

Nannying Isabella has been a riot lately. She says and does the funniest things. I guess she doesn’t really say anything…but she is progressing vocally.

Lately she has been pulling the cats tails. I am amazed at these cats. They just grin and bear it. Its more like they immediately drop to the ground and attempt to claw away. Never at her though….

She loves dancing lately. Just moving her little bum side to side. It’s pretty adorable…

Sometimes I pity myself for not being raised in the church.

I just finished the historical fiction Fire of the Covenant and it was wonderful to read. This novel is based upon the Mormon handcart pioneers. This novel focuses upon the Willie and Martin handcart companies, two companies that are remembered in our church for their late start on the trail and consequent hardships that came because of it. The prophet Brigham Young had called all able European Saints to gather to Zion aka Salt Lake City. Their experiences were in many ways horrifying and extremely sad, but they all gained a sure knowledge of their Father as they had to turn to Him in their trials. This novel had many things I would love to share, but two in particular stood out to me.

“But remember, we are leaving our homes in obedience to the covenants we have made with the Lord. We leave our former lives behind in order to serve the purposes of God. We go forth now to build a heritage and legacy for our children and our grandchildren. Let us go forward with joy, brothers and sisters. We have begun the journey. May we carry on with faith until we bring it to a successful close.”

I read this and had to stop and reflect upon it. It hit me hard as a convert. I struggle sometimes with the fact that I don’t have parents to look to for answers to gospel questions or comfort in making difficult decisions. If I am struggling, I cannot go to them for gospel support. They do their best but often I must study their advice and see whether it fits with gospel truth. Mostly it doesn’t, which can be hard. But I love this quotation because it reminds me to focus upon my future. Upon my children and grandchildren. I can act as that gospel support to them and give them a life that I can only pray for. I need to find joy now in this fact.

Another quotation/conversation jumped out at me, mostly because it is where the novel gets its title.

“‘Let the fire of the covenant, which you made in the house of the Lord, burn in your hearts like a flame unquenchable!’ (Brigham Young)
‘What gave you the power to change your heart was the covenant that burned within you…sometimes the fire is a burden, and you would give almost anything to be rid of it.’ ‘Anything except turning your back on it.'”

I loved this part! It spoke so directly to me that again I had to ponder and reflect upon it. The fire of the covenant is often our motivator to choose the right, to press forward even though it may be dismal, it is what makes our religion unique in many ways. When we are baptized and take upon us the name of Christ, something within us changes. As we learn and grow in the gospel, this fire is fed. We make important decisions with this fire, decisions that will change our lives forever. Often to the outside world these decisions may seem crazy, but to us they are necessary because of the fire of the covenant. It takes us from being unsure to knowing without a doubt.

Sometimes it can be a burden though. To know good vs. bad, right vs. wrong can be hard for us. We wish we were innocent in knowing, we wish we could just try it once, we wish, we wish, we wish. But in the end we know better. In the end we would never give up the fire that burns within us. Why?

Because the fire of the covenant is such a powerful, firm resource of truth. Once you experience it, you would be scared without it, because without it means turning your back on Heavenly Father and His Son. It would be rendering all the knowledge they have given you, all the deeds they have done for you, especially the Atonement, mute.

That would be a scary feeling. To no longer feel the guidance, comfort, and love that comes from the fire of the covenant.

Being a convert in this church is hard. In fact, sometimes I think if I would have known it would have been this painful I probably would not have embarked on this journey. Thank goodness that isn’t a missionary lesson though. Because although its painful, its a good hurt. The kind of hurt that leads you to important truths in your life. That lets you know without a doubt your Father in Heaven and your Savior. To know of their love for you.

The fire of the covenant is an empowering and amazing gift.

Whenever I plan a lesson for church. This word keeps appearing.

To really enjoy the blessings you have to have the desire.

To have your prayers answered your desire must be sincere.

To keep the commandments correctly you have to desire to keep them, not just do it because it is required.

Lately there have been a few things that I really wanted. But the question is, does wanting = desiring?

My conclusion is no.

Sometimes you are scared to desire something. It means you want it so bad that it will be so utterly painful if you don’t get it. That can be really scary.

I realized this weekend that I DESIRE something. That it pains me that I don’t have it.

Hopefully someday.

The cool thing about desire. How you know you have desire instead of wanting….

Your prayers change. An increase of sincerity and gratitude occurs. Your relationship with your Heavenly Father and Savior changes.

Desire is scary. But its so beautiful and moving that it keeps you going.

Today I was taught a lesson on patience.

I am positive it wont be my last. You see me and patience have a wierd relationship.

I was able to wait two years for my husband to return from his mission but each week was absolute agony as I waited for the mailbox to have my treasured letter in it.

There are some things that I am willing to be patient with. Others not so much.

For instance:

Today Isabella (the girl I nanny) woke up at 9am. This means that she would most likely take a nap at 1pm. I took this “most likely” as an absolute. SHE WAS GOING TO TAKE A GOSH DARN NAP AT 1pm!

so usually I will feed her right before “most likely” nap time and she will either doze off in her high chair or she will request my arms (yes she already loves me that much) and I will hum hymns to her. Then she falls asleep.

Neither worked today. She just screamed and resisted and yawned and resisted and screamed some more until I gave up and we went downstairs to play with the cats. Again I tried to lull her to sleep in my arms. Each time she would get that sleepy look in her eye and I knew I would just have to make it last a little longer.

Then some stupid noise would occur or something would catch her eye and BAM! kick scream wriggle.

I would have to let her go.

Ok so probably not the best nanny manners to try to force the child to sleep. In my defense she was visibly tired. I was just trying to help. Plus if she fell asleep that meant I didn’t have to continue putting plastic eyeglasses on the dog and pretend he was a doctor.

It was borderline animal cruelty.

Finally I tried humming one more time. It worked. It was 3pm.

I thought about it on my way home. How impatient I had been with her. I felt awful. I was a little snappy and wasn’t doing my number one rule that I always try to do with children because I have felt its affects.

That is sending out love and confidence. I believe that kids have a keen sense of whether someone is comfortable around them and genuinely loves them. If you are confidence and show kindness most likely the kid will love you. If you are awkward, unsure of yourself and of your feelings toward said child, they will have an entirely different persona.

Well I think Isabella could sense my frustration and impatience and I lost my confidence and full love towards her. I did apologize to her. She smiled. She thinks I’m crazy.

Maybe I am. Just a little.

I have finished the Book of Mormon for the third time.

This time was different. I read it more closely, daily, and prayerfully.

I realized today, after writing my testimony about the Book of Mormon, that is how it is meant to be read.

When I read it everyday, it became more real. I felt its spirit, its power, its truth.

I had a wonderful experience reading it where the words written stood out to me so vividly I couldn’t deny the power of this single book.

This book has made the biggest difference in my life, more than any other book. It has taught me principles, doctrine, and value that are clouded in other places.

If you are reading the Book of Mormon I STRONGLY encourage you to read it daily. Find what works best for you (for me I read it either when I first wake up in bed, or I read it while eating breakfast). Just make sure its everyday, I promise it will make a HUGE difference in what you get from it. Believe me I have read it before and couldn’t get much out of it unless I had a teacher explain it to me.

If you have never read the Book of Mormon you should. Even my first time reading it I felt a change in me, a good change. I love this book and I promise you will also.

On another note it’s Kyle’s 23rd birthday today!

Yesterday we climbed the Pinnacle at REI (its a 65ft rockwall) and had a spaghetti birthday party at our place. We had 14 lovely guests over to help us celebrate. It was a good time.

Also, I found that I can get enough internet if I set my laptop on a shelf right by our window. Con: I have to stand….
Pro: INTERNET! I miss you.