Research Papers

When I was in school, I wrote a lot of research papers. I thought I knew how to research; I always did very well grade-wise. Lately I've been thinking that I want to improve myself in several areas. I want to keep learning. I've been learning a lot by reading. I read books, blogs, etc. But that's a very passive learning. Sure, reading is an essential part of researching. But reading just for reading's sake doesn't make you actively participate. You learn what is put in front of you, the end. You might think about it later. It might even inspire you to start doing some research. But until you put an active hand in your learning and choosing what you read, it isn't research.

I've thought about it a lot for scripture study. You know, the difference between reading the scriptures and studying the scriptures. But I'm not exactly sure how I want to approach that. So I never really do it. I just passively read.

I've been learning a lot lately about the female body and all the beautiful things it does and is capable of doing. I've been a little more active in this lately. Not by much. But I have been actively finding blogs and books to read that are pertinent.

On the same note, I just stumbled upon an amazing blog called Women in the Scriptures. I read the first post and couldn't stop. Soon it was added to my Google Reader and shared with my sister. I love to learn about women. Call me sexist if you want, but I prefer to think that I am learning more about myself by learning more about other women. How can I expect to teach my daughters about gender roles and to love being female if I don't truly understand it myself?

I've been wanting to cook better. I want to be healthier. I want to know what ingredients do what. What are the chemical reactions? When can I substitute different ingredients and when are certain ingredients vital? What can I substitute with? This is actually the idea that got me thinking about research papers. I could learn about different ingredients by picking one, then researching it. This is also the idea that made me realize that I have no idea how to research anymore.

I no longer have the BYU library within walking distance. I do have the Internet, of course, but how do I know what is legit and what is not? Are there specific websites to go to for my questions?

I used to write papers by getting a topic, going to the library, finding a handful of books, skimming until I found the information I wanted, then writing a paper. I could write some pretty good papers that way. And I did even learn things. But now that I think back on it, my goal was to get a good grade on a paper. It was never to actually learn what I was writing about. I think that was a huge problem in my schooling. I never did find a major that was so exciting to me that I went to class to specifically learn. I learned a lot in my many (ahem, 12) majors, don't get me wrong. But I went because that's what was expected of me, because I wanted good grades, because I wanted to graduate. I never was so excited to go to class because it gave me the opportunity to learn. That's one way BJ and I differ. He loves to learn. Ok… getting off topic. This is another post, I think.

So now that I want to learn, now that my perspective has changed, I'm completely befuddled about how I should go about researching. The world of resources just seems so vast. I don't even know what all of my resources are!

Today I listened to several conference talks that made me realize that I need to study the scriptures more. Actually study. I need to pick a topic and study it. I think I'll probably write a talk or a research paper or something. Somehow take the stuff I learn and put it down in an organized fashion. Perhaps you'll see some of it on this blog… we'll see.

But as I stop and think about it, I'm alarmed at how much I don't know. How many resources are out there that I don't know anything about. I'll start with the scriptures first, of course. I mean, what good does it do to study a topic without reading what the scriptures say? But I want to really research. I want to read books on those topics. I want to read what prophets have said about it.

I suppose I'll just have to start. Hopefully the art of research will come back to me. But hopefully this time with a different outlook.

Looking back

8 years ago today I was in my first major car accident thanks to to the heavy, wet snow that was falling faster than they could plow.  I still feel bad for the guy I hit.  Smashed his tiny little car and he didn't have his drivers license with him.  The trim on my minivan popped off.  We popped it back on.  That was it.

Happy Tax Day everyone!  :D

We're famous! … sort of

Sunday afternoon session of General Conference found Kessa happily playing with the Homers while BJ and I took my parents to the Conference Center. We had great seats, (thanks Kristy!) and enjoyed watching Elder Brad Foster (from Ririe!) give his talk. It was a great session and we enjoyed being there in person. (We also enjoyed a child-free session of conference.)

Today our friend, Brooke, informed us that she saw us on TV! Of course we downloaded the video of the session and looked for ourselves. (Ok, fine. She didn't see us. She saw BJ. And maybe my mom. I mostly downloaded it to prove that if BJ was there, I was too.) So for your enjoyment, proof that we attended Conference Sunday afternoon. (Y'know, in case someone thought we just skipped out and got a babysitter for Conference so that we could go on a date.)

#1 - BJ

#2 - Top of Tianna's head and eye

#3 - Back of Mom Lovell's head

#4 - Dad Lovell

Turns out we girls are too short to make it onto international television. [sigh]

Socks

I did it.  I just threw away all of BJ's old, full-of-holes socks.

I threatened to do this when we first got married (I hate holes in my socks) and he pointed out that he didn't mind the holes and by keeping them, we were saving money.  (We were in extreme penny pinching mode at the time.)  I grudgingly agreed.  I told myself that I didn't have to wear the socks.  I could content myself with rolling my eyes every time I did laundry.  And so, for the last year and 9 months, I've done just that.

For Christmas, Santa gave BJ some socks.  (Yes, I put them on his wish list.  Hah!)  He admitted that the new socks were a lot softer and more comfortable.  I tried really hard (though I'm sure I failed miserably) to hide my triumphant smile.

I caved the other day (we're not in severe penny pinching mode anymore!  Just penny pinching mode) and bought him some new socks.  And then, with glee, I pulled all his old, grubby, barely hanging together socks out of the drawer and threw them away.

Well, first, Kessa decided to help me trample all over them, like they deserve.

I'm pretty sure I'm happier about BJ getting new socks than he is.  I'm ok with that.

To prove we live

Ok, has it really been 2.5 weeks since my last post?  I fail at blogging, apparently.  In good news, it's been because I've been really busy.  Not because I broke all of my fingers or something.  We've had a wedding reception, a trip to Idaho for my mom's surprise birthday party (not to mention all of the planning involved with that), date night, FHE with friends, etc.  Plus the joy of trying to keep up a house and baby.  So I feel a bit more justified about my slack.

Kessa just went down for a nap, so I feel like I should blog… something. But I'm not sure what.  So, let me go open my iPhoto and see what fun, random things there are to blog about.

…

Alright.  Here we go.  In no particular order..

Kessa and I went for a walk around the Orem hospital.  (They have a nice little walking track that goes around the grounds.)  Halfway through we stopped and had a snack of Cheerios on the (dead) grass.  It was Kessa's first experience in grass.  I'm not sure if she's eating Cheerios or grass or leaves here… erm… On a side note, isn't her snow suit here adorable?  It's Piglet.  I heart it.

We're getting a WinCo!  I AM SO EXCITED!  Yes, I am that lame that I get excited over a grocery store.  BUT IT'S JUST DOWN THE STREET FROM US!  And did I mention that it's WINCO?!  (Jess, that means you can stroll through the bulk section when you come to visit me!)

The conversation when I first saw it went something like this:

Tianna: [gasp!!!]

BJ: What?!

Tianna: [points]

BJ: [looks around] What?

Tianna: [gasp!!!] [points more fervently]

BJ: [spotting the WinCo] Ahhh.

Kessa loves BJ's computer.  Sometimes it's a fight when he wants to use it and not have random letters and functions being pressed at the most inopportune moments.

And now that you're convinced that we're alive, I will revert back into my hidey hole until I get another splurge of energy and desire to catch up on our life in blog form.  Maybe you'll get lucky and see me soon.  Or maybe it'll be another 2+ weeks.  I make no guarantees.

Happy birthday, BJ!

BJ's birthday is today!  Wahoo!  We were pretty chill in our celebrations, but had fun nonetheless.  This morning we had German Pancakes, then he opened my gifts.  Gifts that I had bought and wrapped weeks ago.  (Yes, I'm quite pleased with myself, thanks.)  Then he went to work where he single-handedly put out a fire.  (Not a real fire, mind you.  Just a work-emergency type of fire.)  Then he left work early (Yay for excess vacation pay that must be used this month!) and we went up to his parents' house.  (I kind of feel like I need another parenthetical here, just for consistency.)  We put Kessa down for a nap, then went over to his grandparents' to help speed up their computer.  (What better way for a computer nerd to celebrate his birthday?)  Then we came back for dinner (mmm… lasagna), pie (dutch apple, his favorite) and presents.  The amazing part?  We didn't leave there until after 9 pm and Kessa was still quite happy!  And she stayed awake all the way home.  And went to bed happy.  That must be her gift to BJ, because usually by 8 she is ready for bed and not afraid to let us know.

Anyway, Happy Birthday, BJ!  We love you!

Girl Scout Cookies

Folks, I have a problem.  I want Girl Scout cookies.  I want them very badly.  Specifically, Samoas.  And next, Thin Mints.  Why the problem?  Well, first, I have no idea where to buy them. Two years ago I just happened upon a couple of cute little girl scouts selling them in the entrance to Maceys.  That's the only time I ever recall buying them myself.  Second, I'm limiting my sugar intake because the blasted stuff gives me headaches.  (Which is, btw, ridiculously unfair and lame.)  Though, the last time I bought them, I hid them sufficiently that I only stumbled upon them here and there and then we'd eat a few, then put them away again.  Those boxes lasted over a year.  And they were still quite tasty, may I add.  So perhaps I have the willpower to do it again?  (Also, we devoured an entire box the night I bought them.  And left another one on the counter for the next few days.  So it was easier to forgo the temptation to ravage my storage.)

What do I do?  Do I buy some?  And if so, where?  How?