3.     Name 2 or 3 items on your “bucket list.”  (Some things you’d like to do before you die.)

1.  Publish a book
2.  Overcome my carb addiction
3.  Serve a mission in Brazil

4.     Brag for a minute.  Do it.  What are a few things that you’re pretty good at?

I am pretty good at telling bedtime stories.  I never imagined that I would be, because frankly, I’m self-conscious about looking foolish!  But just the other night, I was totally cracking my kids up with a custom-made story.  My son was laughing so hard.  He begged me to tell it again and he said, “Mom, I’m laughing so hard, I think I am going to throw up!”  Making my kids laugh so hard that they think they are going to blow chunks.  That was truly one of my proudest moments! 🙂

I think that I am also good at finding joy in the  journey.  I want to enjoy Motherhood, so I try to enjoy it, even when it’s a crappy day, and nobody’s lining up to give me an award for being good at my job, I still try my best to find the good.  It’s not always a bed of roses, but I do believe that attitude is everything!
I also LOVE teaching my children about Jesus Christ and his gospel.  This is very, very fulfilling for me…and empowering.

5.     What are you loving lately?

Sitting outside for 10 minutes (at least) a day…searching the sky for the smallest HINT of SUNSHINE.

My nightly bath.  I cannot go to sleep without a good soak.  Even if it only lasts five minutes, this is my Me Time.

The blog Scriptorium Blogorium.  She’s one smart, insightful lady.  I really hope to understand and apply the scriptures someday as well as she does.

6.     Do you have a favorite scripture or quote?  Why?

I live by a few unwritten rules.  One is “Once a friend, always a friend”.  Once you are on my “friend list”, you can’t get away very easily.  I consider everyone who has ever helped me, worked with me, cared for me, mentored me, taught me, or known me to be a friend.  I genuinely care about all of these people in my life.  Once I consider you a friend, it’s hard to shake me!  I once ran against my best friend for class president and won.  Over 20 years later, she and I are still very dear friends.  I try not to let little things get in the way of friendship and loving others.

Another thing I say is “Everyone has their thing…” This is my way of stopping myself when I feel like criticizing something that someone does that I think is lame!  I think everyone has their “thing”…the “thing” is basically their own personal idiocyncracies…and I have them too.  So when I say, “Everyone has their thing,” I am acknowledging that I have some dumb things that I tend to do just like everyone else, so I should shut my mouth about it! 🙂

I have a long-held policy against “Unnecessary Risk”…that is doing anything that could possibly result in bodily injury…especially paralysis.  My sister used to laugh at me, because I wouldn’t even run down hills.  Not that I’m not athletic.  I’m just really careful with my body.  Weird, huh?  I do however take risks when it comes to social situations or professional endeavors.  I think taking risks, such as sky-diving, is selfish and I would NEVER do it!

I could probably go on and on about this question…but instead I’ll refer you to a book that really lit my fire about 10 years ago called Magic Words: 101 Ways to Talk Your Way Through Life’s Challenges by Howard Kaminsky and Alexandra Penney.  It’s a good one!

7.     What do you gravitate toward during your unscheduled time?

Writing…conspiring…blogging, and planning my next big project.

8.     Tell us some of your best mom-tricks  (things you’ve figured out that work well for you).

Slow down.  I came from an industry that measures time in seconds.  Everything happens so fast that they have even adopted a language of communication that conveys meaning in the briefest possible time.  Instead of saying, “Please save that story to run another day,” we’d say, “Kill it”.  Instead of saying, “Please wait, I need to answer this question,” we’d say “stand-by”.

In Motherhood though, you must slow down long enough to really hear and listen to your children.  There are no short-cuts in good communication when you’re a Mom.

9.     What’s something you don’t usually want people to know about you, but that they need to know if they’re going to be your friend?

In addition to being a loud-talker (especially on the phone or when I am excited)…I tend to interrupt a lot in conversation.  It’s soooo rude, but I get really excited when I’m talking with a friend.  I usually interrupt just to AGREE with the person talking.  (I know it doesn’t make sense!)  I rationalize it by saying that I am being an “active listener”.  I TRY not to do it…but it’s a hard habit to break!  I am embarrassed by this habit, but if you are going to be my friend, you need to be aware of it and hopefully understanding of it!!

10. If you were in charge of a girls’ night out, what kind of activity would you love to plan?

I would plan a volleyball tournament…but I’d have to have girlfriends who know how to really play.  I am itching to hit a volleyball really, really hard.  That is something that I miss, now that I am a Mom.  I hate running on a treadmill.  It seems like a ridiculous way to exercise, but that’s what I have to do, since I don’t know that many people who share my love of bump, set, spiking!

11. Friends are great for venting.  What’s been frustrating you lately?

My eating habits.  I am completely addicted to carbs and sugar. I also LOVE to bake for my children…ahem…and for myself.  It’s fun and tasty…and totally counter-productive!  hee hee!  It gets me through stressful days and is a fun bonding activity to do with  my kids.

12. What parts of your testimony are you the most sure of?

I am most sure of the fact that families are forever.  I love the truths found in the Family Proclamation.  Every time I teach the principles found in this inspired document to my young children, my testimony grows.  I am also sure that the world needs good women who are willing to walk away from the world’s expectations and be the Mothers that our children and families need us to be.  Knowing that the Lord will help me do this is very comforting to me.

Tell us about your blog:

I blog about my life as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the ways that I teach my children about Christ, and what the Spirit teaches me through experience at “We Talk of Christ, We Rejoice in Christ”.  (http://beinglds.blogspot.com)  I share ideas about teaching children about Christ and strengthening the family.

Currently, I am hosting something that I call Service Boot Camp.  Service Boot Camp is a call for women every where to join together in serving a specific cause.  In past Service Boot Camps, we have raised money for Haiti, made  journals for grieving military widows, and spent an entire month serving others daily.  This month, we are on a mission to write letters thanking people who have helped us or had a positive influence in our lives.  There are giveaways every day, so please join us!

Thanks, Jocelyn!  Isn’t it fun to meet new people? Next week, we’ll meet another new friend.  Watch your email inbox; it might be you!  If you want to get in on the fun, add a comment on this post.  I’ll do a random selection from there every week.