Johnathan Firetruck

The saddest thing about Jorja going to school early is I don't get to walk Preston to the bus stop. She hasn't made it to the bus once. I have driven her to the stop and we have been on time according to the website, but we have yet to see the bus. I wonder how early it comes. Anyway, today was late start, so I got to walk with Preston. I love doing this. I love that he lets me do this. Sometimes he holds my hand, usually he talks to me the entire time. I'm trying to soak up every second with him before he won't want me around anymore. Jorja went to breakfast with Aysha. She is a big fan of late start days.

Aysha

I fasted today. Well, I started after I exercised yesterday and ended around lunch time. We have our ward Christmas dinner on Saturday and I hate fasting from dinner to dinner. I also hate fasting less than 24 hours. I know it's weird, I just have a hard time with not going the full 24. I had something specific I was fasting for for each of my kids. The simple version is...Maysen to have a good experience with friends, Stockton to get his 4.0 that he desperately wants and has been working so hard for, Jorja to find peace and Preston to get better (he has a nasty cough) and make friends. (Of course I also included Guy, Marie, Mallory and Emery.) Anyway, I had specific promptings regarding Jorja. They were unexpected and almost at odds with what I thought was best for her. I was really confused. I don't recognize promptings very often, but this seemed oddly specific. I woke up feeling I needed to tell Jorja something. I got down on my knees and prayed. I asked if I was really supposed to tell Jorja this. Immediately I felt that it was what she needed to hear in order to have peace. I don't want to write what it was, but I'm a little confused as to why she needed to hear that. Because I'm writing this post on Wednesday I will spend just a second to write about today. I started to doubt my prompting. I thought I must have been imagining it. This morning I knelt down to pray and asked if I was really prompted to tell Jorja what I did. Immediately I felt I was. I also felt instructed to tell Jorja about my experience. Yesterday I didn't tell her I had been fasting for her, or that what I said was a prompting. That made me nervous, because what if I was misinterpreting everything? I asked again, is this in my mind, or am I really suppose to have this conversation with Jorja? I felt strongly I was supposed to talk to her about it. I tried to talk to her on the way to school, but she was grumpy. She had gotten up early, hurried and tried to make the bus. The bus didn't come. We aren't sure how early it gets there. Anyway, despite Jorja's grumpiness I told her what I was prompted that she needed to hear. I'm so confused and started doubting myself again. When I got home I prayed and asked if I did the right thing. Once again I immediately felt I did what I was asked to do. Still, I hope I did right. I always get scared thinking I don't understand what Heavenly Father is asking of me. I second guess myself all the time, but as I type this I feel it was what I was supposed to do. I have no idea how it will help Jorja find peace, but I hope she can find it.

Jorja drove to work today. She called me when she got there. When I saw her name come up on my phone I was immediately worried she had been in an accident. No, but she accidentally set off the panic alarm and couldn't get it to stop. I had no idea how to turn it off. She was so embarrassed. Soon I hear a boy come out to help her. I heard something like, "Don't worry, I got you." She is doing great driving her car though. I am so proud of her! I dropped off Preston at piano and then headed down to Sam's house. She had picked up the new Hank Smith collection for me. The Bonus talk: 10 Tips for a Successful Teenage Social Life was the talk we were at when it was recorded. We have all the others. Luckily Sam gets a huge discount and was able to get it for us for ten dollars.

Preston went to the combined activity tonight. Too bad Jorja couldn't be there. She asked for it off, but was scheduled anyway. The kids went to Target to do a Sub for Santa for some refugees. Preston came home close to 9:00 and seemed to have a lot of fun. Yay! I know he was in a group with Matthew and Aidan. He was happy, and had a McFlurry.

 Kiki & Quacky Chan

 Christmas Ducks

Jorja got back pretty late but was excited to play with Kiki. It is funny how much she loves that duck. Mike gave the ducks a bath, but they were still pretty smelly. I don't like the smell of animals. Jorja lost her Chick-Fil-A tag. I'm sure we will run across it sometime. The last time she wore it was on Saturday, but she changed out of her clothes and went and helped Drew ask Hailey to the Christmas dance. Anyway, her friend Johnathan has several different tags. He let Jorja wear one. Her tag says Johnathan Firetruck. Jorja loved it.

Jorja & Kiki

 Jorja's favorite things

 Jorja & Kiki

Jorja asked if I would sleep in the guest room with her and we could fall asleep listening to the Hank Smith CD together. Too bad her CD player she got for her birthday last year wouldn't work. Mike found an old laptop that had a CD drive and we were still able to listen to it. I think both of us fell asleep within the first five minutes though. I woke up right as it was ending. I slid the laptop onto the floor and snuck back to my bedroom. I couldn't find my phone though. Jorja will hear my alarm bright and early tomorrow morning!

Zip Lining

We are in Victoria Canada today! We went zip lining and had the best time. Mike bought this excursion before we left, but they only had space for five. I knew I might get left out. A few days ago I went to the excursion desk and asked to be put on a waiting list. They had one spot left on our group. Yay! Yay! Yay! I am so glad because this was so much fun!

Mounty, Jorja, Stockton, Preston

 Maysen & Preston ~ hour long bus ride

 Stockton, Preston, Jorja, Mike, Maysen, Stephanie

Vlog

Jorja

 Preston

 Preston & Jorja

Jorja vlog

Stockton and Jorja vlog

Our course

 Jorja, Preston, Stockton, Mike

Mike

Maysen

Jorja, Maysen, Stockton, Preston

Grrrr...Preston

 Stephanie & Jorja

 Jorja & Mike

Stockton

Stockton

Jorja

Maysen

Jorja, Preston, Maysen, Stockton, Stephanie, Mike

Our guides were great. They taught us fun tricks and made us feel very safe. Mike is super afraid of heights and he had no problem doing this. Jorja had a blast. She is also afraid of heights. This was so much fun!!!!! They get to go zip lining all day, for a job. Wow.

Alan & Paige

On our last line there is a bird house towards the end. The bird house takes your picture. Preston's turned out the best. We bought his. Here is a video of him posing for the bird house.

Preston

Preston

I love my family. Today was such a fun day. I loved watching my kids walk together. I love how they get along so well. I am going to miss this. It hurts my heart to think how much I'm going to miss this. I hope they always make a huge effort to stay close as they grow older. They are the best friends. I hope they will be this close in fifty years.

Preston, Maysen, Stockton, Jorja

Mike went with the Maysen, Stockton and Preston to Wind Jammer. Jorja and I went to the fancy dinner. We got to sit next to Hank Smith again! Yay! He kept introducing Jorja and telling people she was going to write a book and he is her agent. Haha!

Jorja & Hank Smith

 Hank Smith & Jorja

Hank Smith vlogging

Lauren & Jorja

 Jorja, Preston, Stockton and John

 My kids are weird.

 Preston got his name in the arcade too!

 Stockton ~ there was a chocolate fountain at dinner

Mike took Preston and Maysen to the flowrider. They were so cute waiting in line!

Maysen

Maysen

 Preston

Preston with a nice save

Well, that will be pretty much a wrap for this cruise. We have most of our bags packed and put them in the hallway. They are gone now. Hopefully we will be reunited with them tomorrow!

Ten Thousand Hours

We listened to the last presentations today. People were taking pictures with Hank Smith and Dave Hadlock afterword. Jorja and I waited to get a picture, the rest of the kids left. After the picture I asked Hank Smith if he had any advice for Jorja. She wants to be a public speaker. He talked to her for over twenty minutes. It was great.

Dave Hadlock, Jorja, Hank Smith

 Jorja & Hank Smith

 Jorja being mentored.

1. The number one thing she needs to do to be a public speaker is to get educated. No one wants to listen to a dummy.

2. Listen to who you like. He said he would email her a couple of people he would like her to watch. Gayle Lyn Condie is fantastic and he thinks she is going to be pretty big.

There are three types of big time speakers. The first type are people that are famous. Like Opera or the President of the United States. The second type are people with an incredible story. Like you were born with no arms and no legs. The third type is Hank Smith and the number three thing he told Jorja to do.

3. Have a nitch. Find something that you know about more than anyone else. If you had to talk on something for your entire life, what would it be? Hank Smith's nitch is the gospel and high trust relationships. Make sure you are interested in it because you have to study ALL the time. Pick something and become the best in the business at that thing.

4. One of the things that derails speakers is they don't have good material. He asked Jorja to start soon, or today and make 'JORJA'S SPEAKING LIST'. He wants her to collect 50 things that she could use in a talk. It could be a story, quote, insight, something about her life....I remember the first time I ______. Hank told her he started making his list in 2006. The other day he was driving down the road when he heard a story on the radio that said a guy was so drunk in Texas that when the police found him he had pulled his car over and was giving mouth to mouth to road kill. As soon as Hank Smith heard that story he pulled over and sent a text to himself with a note to add that to his file. He is pretty sure that he can use that in a talk, especially if he is asked to speak to kids about the dangers of alcohol.

5. Take every chance there is to talk. Volunteer in primary. When he was starting out he took everything. He gave a talk in the bishop's kitchen, one talk was to seven scouts on a picnic table. It wasn't because he thought talking to those scouts would give him his big break, but he needed experience. The only reason he can think so quick on his feet is he put the time in. There is a 10,000 hour rule. It takes 10,000 hours to become a master at anything. He wants Jorja to get her 10,000 hours in by the time she is 25. When he was starting he would say yes to things that scared him and other speakers. "I might bomb, but I'd rather bomb here then when my big chance comes - like RootsTech. You will fall on your face, but fall on your face in front of the miamaids and not at Time Out for Women."

6. Hank Smith then told Jorja he wanted her to write a book and then send it to him. Something small like 10 Tips for Teenage Girls or Shy to Student Body President. (She would have to be elected to that if she wanted that title though.) It could be about hair, makeup, smiling, self esteem. He would help her become a published author. Brad Wilcox published a book at 17. John Bytheway published one at 22.

7. Get a social media account based on her speaking persona. Maybe she will only have thirty followers and it will all be her family. Why? Eventually it will pay off. Be willing to be different than everyone else. EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE DO EXTRAORDINARY THINGS.

8. The biggest thing is DON'T QUIT. There is no short cuts. You got to put in the hard work.

That was it. That was his advice to her. I love it. It was so kind of him to spend so much time talking to her and taking a genuine interest in her. I am so thankful he was willing to interact with her like that.

Today was a day on the ship. We had a nice, relaxing day. Stockton enjoyed his time in the arcade and was thrilled to hold the record on all the Mario Kart levels on one of the machines.

 Maysen ~ this picture looks like it is a fake background. She looks so pretty here.

 Stephanie and Maysen

 Maysen and Mike

Maysen, Stockton and Preston ate at the Wind Jammer. Mike, Jorja and I ate at the fancy main restaurant. We ended up getting seated next to Hank Smith! That was awesome! Jorja got to talk to him all through dinner. Mike was cracking him up. I wish I had thought of having Mike tell him the Wyoming church stories with the "Then Moroni popped up." That would have been great! I loved it when Hank Smith told Jorja that the thing that would derail a public speaking career more than anything is boys. Ha! He said if she got a boyfriend he would go knock on their door and tell them she was off limits. Her agent said so. It was so funny.

Gorilla

We dropped Jorja off at the iceskating place and went to the dancing show with Maysen. We were hanging in the kids room when the phone rang. It was Jorja. She was in our room and wanted us to come. Mike and I hurried over because it was obvious she was upset. We had forgotten to sign the waver, so she couldn't go iceskating with the other teens. Jorja had attempted to make a cat animal as she waited. I thought it was a sting ray.

Jorja's animal

Anyways, I hurried over and signed the waver. She was able to get on the ice for the last ten minutes or so. Mom fail. This was the first night they had opened the rink to the public too. The rink is very small. It looked kind of crazy out there. Jorja was scared to go when I finally got the waver signed because she didn't want to go by herself. Luckily when she went down to get her skates she saw Joy Covington. She had finished skating, but put her shoes back on and went out on the rink with Jorja. I thought that was very, very kind of her.

Jorja & Joy on the left...kind of...

Well, a mom fail on signing the waiver and a mom win on getting Hank Smith to mentor her. I think that balances out.