Opposition in all things-Chapter 2

"...You've got to be sick, to be grateful for your health."

(if anyone can name the play/musical that song is from, I will write a special blog dedicated to you just to rave about how cool you are.-Any takers?)

So it all started a couple of weeks ago on a Tuesday (Nov 11th) with a sore throat--as usual. Swallowing was painful, and I was constantly thirsty. I knew I was getting sick. Dang it!

I increased my water intake,

I started taking Airborne in the mornings (Pink grapefruit is my favorite) and I tried to go to bed earlier than usual. (keyword... TRIED).

It continued the next day, and the next, adding one symptom on to another, including exhaustion. I was doomed, and I knew it. By Friday morning (the 14th) people thought I was just really emotional because my eyes would not stop watering. I had one nostril congested and the other so busy running, you'd think it was training for the Boston marathon. Here's the worst part-For 2 days, all I had to stop the drippage were paper towels. OUCH! Sores started to form in the area under my nostrils, which made the whole situation even more painful.

I had plans to go to St. George with some people in the new ward and I had been looking forward to the opportunity to get to know some people better. The rides were arranged and everything, but in the hours just before I was to leave Friday evening, things took an intense turn to UNBEARABLE! I was in a meeting at work and honestly felt like a complete zombie. The pressure in my head had convinced me that for sure my sinuses were going to explode at any moment. I get frequent migraines, so it wasn't pain like that, but the intense pressure was remarkably uncomfortable. I left work and knew there was no way I could make the almost 5 hour drive to St. George comfortably, nor would I be able to enjoy myself socially. So, sadly, I decided not to go.

Katie, a girl in my new ward found out I was sick and quickly was texting me to inquire of my symptoms and needs and how she could be of help to me--soup? blankets? medicine?. At first, I declined her offer, but then I went to wipe my nose and I was painfully reminded, "These paper towels are killing me!" I humbled myself and asked if she'd bring me some soft tissues...VOILA!-They were at my door within about 20 minutes. THANK YOU KATIE!!

Oh the relief!

So that was Friday. Things pretty much remained the same, or worse for the next couple of days and I was thoroughly disappointed that instead of doing this with my friends,

I was doing this at home alone


Pretty much all I wanted to do was sleep, eat soup

and watch "The Office." So that was exactly what I did, (along with catching up on about a month's worth of "Heroes" episodes online.

I wasn't getting better. Instead, I was just starting to get annoyed. On Tuesday night (the 18th) I almost passed out during the recreation therapy group I was running at the boys group home. Luckily my office is in that building as well, so I simply walked away from the kids and said "Uhh..give me a minute." I decided to rest for a second. What is it about putting our head on our desk that somehow magically makes us feel better? I think it's something subconsciously brainwashed into us starting in elementary school. It's miraculous!

I went home right away (at about 730pm), walked into my bedroom and fell onto my bed and was OUT! My phone alarm went off about an hour later to remind me about a meeting I had at 915pm. I made a phone call to reschedule. I got up to take out my contacts, brush my teeth, put on the PJs and then I went straight to sleep at about 845pm. Speaking of opposition-THAT is the complete opposite of me!!!

Amazingly enough, I woke up the next morning and felt rested, less frustrated and a little better. Things started to improve in the next couple of days. I could actually breath again.

As for the most current health update. My energy is back, and I feel overall fine. I still have to keep tissues close by and the itching in my eye hasn't gone away. In fact-today I'm wearing my glasses because my right eye was bright red and burning last night and all day today. It will be a great day when I'm 100% again. But like I said before, "...You've got to be sick, to be grateful for your health."

Opposition in all things-Chapter 1

So it's that time again...you know, where I get to rattle off my thoughts here to the computer and assume that other people are reading them. So other than writing about my brother's wedding and giving a two week play-by-play of my happenings when first arriving in Utah, I've been told by some close friends that I seem to be "holding back," if you will. Well here goes nothing:

I have recently experienced the importance of opposition in my life.
I've decided to share just a few examples lately of how and why. I decided I will write them as a series (to keep you all in "suspense"..or to avoid from having one amazingly long post)

Chapter 1: "Being in the world, but not of the world"
I've heard that phrase all of my life and I've often contemplated its meaning for me personally. I believe it is up to each individual to assess their life circumstances and define its meaning in their own life.

A couple of Fridays ago I went to Temple Square to meet up with my long-time friend, Bill, and see the "Reflections of Christ" exhibit. www.reflectionsofchrist.org
(It was fantastic, by the way!)

As I was walking from my car to go meet Bill, I became curious (as well as concerned) by the bustling commotion I could hear growing as I approached Temple Square. I rounded a corner and suddenly it was as if I had stepped into a bizarre movie scene. I've been to Temple Square probably close to a hundred times in my life and I have always felt a sense of peace and tranquility there. Well not this time... Wow! Little did I know that thousands were swarming downtown to march past the temple and church headquarters, to protest the passing of California's Proposition 8. Now, I'm not going to use this post to express my personal opinion of Proposition 8 because I think still talking about it is starting to become like beating a dead horse, however, I will share my experience that evening of what happened to me on the inside while there was extreme chaos on the outside. It actually ended up being a great experience. I had just had a pretty amazing week, spiritually, for a lot of different reasons and believe it or not, the protesters actually added to it. Temple Square had been closed, obviously, so Bill and I had to bravely enter the "protest zone," to get to the Joseph Smith Memorial Building for the exhibit.
(See the picture?...YES! I walked into THAT, and I did so confidently, smiling, unafraid, and in no way feeling "shame on me" for being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.)

Bill and I smiled kindly at the security officials guarding the reflection pool area, and since it was obvious we were harmless, they let us through. The Joseph Smith Memorial Building is one of the only church-owned buildings with public access to the street (not surrounded by the walls of Temple Square), and believe me, the protesters definitely were taking advantage of it. The common theme was "DISRUPT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE." Horns honking, megaphones blaring, fists and signs beating against the doors as they'd march by, or the "courageous" few who would open the doors and yell slanderous profanities inside- all popular and typical behaviors of any protest. It was crazy to say the least, however, as I stood there and viewed the beautiful photographs portraying the life of Jesus Christ, I was struck by the symbolism of it all. I was watching the introduction video for the exhibit,and suddenly it hit me.

How often in life is the world screaming at us? Do we allow others to affect our overall satisfaction in life? Do we base our happiness on how others view us, treat us or judge us? It became very apparent to me that it was my choice to either focus my attention on the art exhibit I had come to experience, or to allow my evening to be ruined by the protest. I loved the exhibit and I suddenly realized the true power that comes to each of us in the battle against the adversary as we devote our lives and focus (or in this case "reflect") on the Savior, Jesus Christ.

Look what I found!

Rock band in the wedding attire! (Those are Amy's parents)

The Last Player Standing...

OK, I will warn you now-this post is unlike any of my others. Prepare yourself for some sarcasm and a slight sense of me being on a soap box. Are you ready?

After my last post about Kevin & Amy's wedding, I think it's a perfect time to finally bring this up. So let's address the elephant in the room...it's true-I will be the last member of my family to get married......uh huh...and...????

I've had more than a person or two in the past couple of months ask me how it feels being the only single person left in my family. Well, I will tell you-

#1-I can admit part of me wants to just stand there in utter amazement when they ask me that. Seriously. In a perfect world, I would just stare at them in blank silence until they hopefully would realize (on their own) the stupidity of that question. But, I'm not that lucky. So instead, I just smile and say-"Oh, we're just saving the best wedding for last."

#2-If you were to ask me growing up if I thought I would be the last Player sibling married, I'm not sure how I would have answered. First of all, it's not like I'm on the older end of the family, so I'm not sure how I was supposed to "beat" some of them to it (because we all know it's a race, right?). But I guess being the only Player girl, there has always been a certain level of bridal pressure, if you will, with the "when you get married...(insert fairy tale wedding idea here)" comments from all sides...I'm still not really sure how or why being the only girl in my family is considered to somehow be a catalyst in the process of mutually falling in love with someone???? Anyone? Anyone?

#3 Apparently someone started a myth a long time ago that any girl who goes to BYU has only one degree in mind...their "M.R.S. degree." What exactly does that even mean? I didn't even know what that was until I was already at BYU, so obviously it had nothing to do with why I had gone there in the first place.- Whatever. I must admit there was nothing during my college years that bugged me more than everyone's utter shock every time I would go home to Kansas and a "girl like me" still wasn't married, engaged or even dating anyone out in Provo. Uh...? Sorry? *shrug* (as Cassie would say). Yes, it's true-I graduated from BYU with my maiden name on my degree/diploma...woohoo! Go me! I see nothing wrong with that.

#4 I have an awesome family. My parents are amazing people and two of my best friends! I can talk to them about ANYTHING! I have 4 fantastic brothers, whom I have always loved and been close to, and now I'm lucky to have 4 great sisters (in-law) who simply just belong among us in the Player family. I can't even tell you how much it means to me to have 4 women who love my brothers. I honestly couldn't ask for more, and on top of that- I love being an Aunt! My 6 nieces are my world!


Mom & Dad (est. 1972)


James & Krista (est. 1994)[she's adorable, huh!?]


Martin & Breckann (est. 1998)


Kevin & Amy (est. 2008)


Tiffanie- Flying solo (for now)


Jonathan & Cassie (est. 2004) [This is SOOO typical of them :) ]

#5 What's the rush? I'm a good girl-it'll happen when it happens. I don't think anything is wrong with me, and I'm feeling pretty ok about how I live my life, therefore I'm pretty sure if I can trust the Lord's timing of things happening in my life-it would be fantastic if others could support Him on that as well. No, I'm NOT bitter, I'm actually just faithful (as in full of faith). I shared this quote before, but I'm going to step off of my soap box now and end this post by sharing it again as a friendly reminder to all of us.

"Having faith in the Lord, also means having faith in His timing."
-Elder Neal A. Maxwell.

FINALLY!!!!

My older brother, Kevin, got married on Friday Oct 17th in the Salt Lake Temple to Amy. This was kinda a big deal. No, not kinda. It was pretty much a huge deal! Kevin had been my hero for the..., well for about the past 5 years. As you all should probably know by now, I had moved back to Kansas and lived with him for the past year in Lawrence. I loved my time with him! I love my brother. I miss my brother. He introduced me to so many things- Trainman (If you haven't seen it-ask him), Tron, his love of India, Ice sheets, Bazmati rice, the beauty of the bidet, how to sadly catch (and pretty much torture) the mice in our house, his philosophies on so many random things, not to mention some rather amazing gospel conversations. I loved our Sunday afternoon chats we'd have at the kitchen table, right when we got home from church. Sometimes they would last for hours. I loved waking up and finding the snow on my car was already scraped off by him, or us waiting for each other, so we could watch Heroes, the Office and American Idol together on the DVR. I loved back when we used to talk about "wandering in the wilderness" of life--wondering when we would reach the "Promised Land" as we would discuss our "learning experiences" in relationships (or failed attempts-however you want to look at it). We'd try to give the guy or girl perspective to help the other out. HA! Well it appears that my advice was better, because things worked out for him.Kevin and Amy actually have known each other for years! I won't go into the details of how they FINALLY ended up together, because it's complicated (and ridiculous on his part if you ask me) but she was amazingly patient and it all worked out in the end. I'm so glad I moved to Lawrence last fall and became fast friends with her. I'm even happier that I get to be friends with her forever. (There was a part of me that always knew it would happen). Good for Kevin for finally being willing to go "cliff jumping" and to allow himself to fall in love! Here are some pictures from the festivities:

Some of the Player family gathered outside the Salt Lake temple...

The California nieces

Krista, the 1st Player sister-in-law!

the Player siblings (almost normal)

The classic "pulling a face," that Mom loves so much. (not really)
(Wow! How do I do that?!-scary)

Player sibling table at the luncheon. (I was originally assigned to sit at another table...huh??!?! Yeah, none of us really understood that one either. My brother, Martin, switched the name cards so I could sit with my brothers) Shh! Don't tell. This was probably one of my favorite parts of the wedding day! It's not often all 5 of us Player kids (well I guess with wives there are 9 of us total now) but we don't get to be together very often, so we had a blast that day! We laughed A LOT. It was also an extra special day because for the first time all of us were able to be in the temple together to witness a sibling's sealing. (When James & Martin were married, we were too young, and when Jonathan was married-Kevin was on his mission). In fact, the extra special bonus was that his own sealing was the first time Kevin had EVER been to a sealing at all.

The parents

The open house in Kansas was what you would call "Non-traditional" but TOTALLY Player-style!! We are a family that loves to play games. Every family meal, Mom usually has random games & prizes for us. So Kevin & Amy continued the tradition. They rang a bell every 30 minutes and would draw for prizes or announce winners of the games in which people had participated while waiting in line. It was classic! Oh! and it's true...there was Rock Band!
Kevin & Amy had changed out of their wedding clothes by then, which is too bad because I loved the site of Amy rocking out in her wedding dress. I wish I had a picture. Yeah my family is pretty much awesome!

Welcome to the family, Amy!

(Is it funny to anyone else that there seems to be a rather distinct gap in this family picture in the area up by me...like someone is missing? Hmmm?..someday, I guess)