Scientists can do anything!

Remember that time I failed miserably at curling my hair? I think it was because I wasn't working with hazardous chemicals! That's my niche people. So I don't have a lot of hair which means if I screw up- i'll only have to live with it for a couple weeks. Right? Of course right!

Picking a hair color is akin to dating. I'm afraid of committing to a crazy change! So here is how my sister convinced me to go with the color I chose.

Sister: Look last time you went dark you couldn't even tell. You need drastic.

Me: I could tell!

Sister: You just got a new calling and it's a new year and you're crazy! What would Jem do?! She was blonde and went pink all the time and it worked for her. Just make sure and wear lots of bright colors otherwise people will think you're goth. Scratch that, write dad a goth poem and then show him. Hahaha.

WWJD indeed. Does it worry anyone else that I get fashion advice from an 80s cartoon?

So I went drastic- drastic for me that is.

So I went to work- mixed the color and lo and behold it turned blue on my scalp!

I shouldn't do things like this alone. As an aside if you are trying this at home use vaseline around your scalp and on your ears so the blue doesn't stay.

20 minutes later including rinsing, conditioning, and hairdrying annnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnd

Drumroll please

I'm flippin' SNOW WHITE!

Sassy short black hair? Yes please. Happy New Year!!

A Thanksgiving Family Text-Fest

Here we are at Ihop...Thanks for makin' me soup

:D we like it! We're with you now!

 Left to right: snoowy, grandpa, Ariel, Jenny, jenny's lil robot

I'm huge!!

 We only have puppies at our table though ^_^

Is that me and dad?

Yes :3 you're snoowy dogs

   

Here we are!

And Ariel made you huge because you have an elaborate dress :)

Your phone sparkles like mine!

Of course

I think your puppy selves are a good match. Now Ariel can carry you all around!

Yay!! Ariel has grandpa and Jenny

      

Give that to ariel

She said thaaaaaank yooooou!!!!!!?!?!?!?1111111 and she wants you to draw snoowy lol

I bet dad likes your picture better than my puppy picture

Nope dad just said he likes the puppy picture better

It's more realistic anyway ;-)

Bahahahahahaha

Moms a pirate XD

lololololololololololololol

Edited

Ariel told her she was a pirate. Mom was cooperative

She likes it better now

Tell her grandpa is a grumpy moose

Send us a picture of belle with reindeer horns

"lolilolilololilililol he's silly"

  

Happy Thanksgiving Handy Family all over the world!

10 reasons my Dad is AWESOME

Meet my Pops.

His name is Oscar. Sometimes he is very similar to his trashcan dwelling counter-part...which is where I get it from too! Mwah ha ha

Moving on

This is my Pops as a youth. Doesn't he look like a handful? I mean look at that picture of him on the left. He looks like a small wolverine. I bet his mother prayed he would have children just like me and my siblings. He had lots of siblings and is one of the babies of the family.

Pops wanted to be like the rest of his siblings and went to Vietnam! Oh yes, yes, there is a lot more that happened between him being a mischievous youth and this picture. But this is just an introduction. 

What we want to know is why my dad is so awesome at being a dad. He seems to have been a pretty ordinary kid. Maybe a little gangster but still.

Little known fact:Pop's parenting manual actually never got mailed to him from the powers that be. He actually had to figure it out as he went along...and he doesn't think he did a very good job. Which is sad. I like to think that no parent does a good job at first. It takes lots of practice. Sometimes all your kids need to be in their mid-twenties or much much older. We understand you are doing your best though. And honestly, I can't imagine anyone doing any better given the circumstances. Even Liam Neeson was a crappy parent at first before he killed all the terrorists in Europe to save his daughter (Reference movie Taken)

Besides, we have provided you with only the best training.

So without further ado here are 10 reasons why my Dad is awesome.


10) He has introduced me to the good movies. Here is an example

Even John Wayne can make an excellent romantic comedy. Real men can be sensitive & have feelings.


9) He mailed my sewing machine to me without it breaking.

Sometimes all you need is a whole crap ton of duct tape and bubble wrap. Oh, and a box from your new camping stove.

8) He is the embodiment of Carl Fredrickson...only a tad bit younger.

SAME PERSON!



7) If it matters to his children it matters to him. I went through the Salt Lake LDS temple for my 24th birthday to receive the ordinance of the endowment. He flew up to support me because it mattered to me and is still supporting me in my decision to be an active member of the latter day saint faith.

6) He still loves my mother.

And he can't get rid of that no matter how crazy vegetable-like mentally ill she is. I wish I could be a little more like that.


5)  He is a dinosaur

Now that is OLD!

4) He goes on daring adventures with me!

And makes me feel like a super hero when we go hiking. Yay!! I can run around the delicate arch faster than a 60 year old! Oh and he was a good sport and made it out the whole 3 mile hike. 

3) He made a deal with me that he wouldn't die until I got married. And had a kid.

Welcome to breaking the world's oldest man record Pops. Your goal is in sight.

2) He can pretend to be hardcore knowing full well his back will probably hurt later.

I'm a 60 year old man and I do what I want!!

I bike from Montana to Wyoming CAUSE I CAN!

1) He is coming to understand that he isn't dead yet. To put it simpler, even though he is 61 he still has a lot of life left and more time to change for the better. Sometimes we let ourselves dwell on the past. I'm sure it will get more tempting the older we get and the more we go through. But while we still have tomorrows to look forward to we should really get up and do something about it. He may be retired from the work force but that only means he has QUADRUPLE THE TIME TO SPEND WITH HIS FAMILY! God Speed Daddio. Keep forging the path ahead. You aren't as bad at this parenting thing as you believe yourself to be.

The internet can't teach you everything...

I'm a scientist! I can do anything if I study it through enough. I love trying new things. Nothing scares me!!!

I'll flippin' PROVE IT!

This is what I found from the Google.

I don't know what this means. I'm just going to wing it.

Bring out the curlers!

Ayudame por favor!

Starting at the base roll right to left...er...my hair didn't stick so I washed it then I put in hairspray as I went...and finally I just left them wherever they happened to stay put. Several minor burns later...

They stayed WITHOUT duct tape. Just keep them in until they are too annoying to bear anymore  (read: should my scalp still feel like it is burning?) and...

Aren't you proud of me women in my life?

This is what happens when you put curlers in haphazardly

But....

You can rock anything if you have enough confidence?

Wrong.

Yes, little girl he does look scarier like that. At least I do...

And now we know how to beat all the Zelda games! Look Stephanie you were doing it the hard way.

And I fixed it!!

I present my new hair cut....

Jen Handy failing with glory since 1987.

My poor hair.

I'm so glad I'm no longer 5

Science has ruined me. Let me rephrase that. Microbiology has ruined me. I baby sat yesterday and within the first 5 minutes of being in this room full of small children a little girl wanting to share her cookie with me stuck her whole fist in my mouth.  My outward reaction was fine and we went on playing but my mind said, "FECAL-ORAL ROUTE!!! FECAL-ORAL ROUTE!!!! Poop. Poop. She probably just put poop in my mouth. Where have her hands been she’s like 2?!  I’m going to get a parasite. Great." And then I envision the E.Coli laughing at me and resign myself to the fact that in 30 minutes I'll be violently retching burritos.

I wonder if a similar thought process keeps some people from liking dogs...

I'm pretty sure this is how my dad views my dog on occasion

For all you dog haters out there let's not even get started about how bunnies and mice have to eat their poop once to fully digest any of their food. Once you come to realize that everything is probably covered in something horrible and everyone is gross you just kind of let it go.

I do love babysitting little children if only for the sole reason that I get to play like I have always wanted to play and not get judged for it. Every time my little group of kids wanted water we would play secret ninja and pretend we were on a mission to get away from the bad guys. Anytime someone walked into the hallway we abandoned the water mission and raced back to home base. After the coast was clear we would quietly try again. Which leads me to something I learned about myself.

Jen Handy Quirk # 294

 

I get along really welly with little boys. Ninja, catch, dinosaur vs jedi warriors, crab soccer, relay races. Help you learn how to do a handstand by holding your feet in the air. I'm all over that. Little girls wouldn't want to play with my because I'm too rowdy. 

Unless of course that little girl is Ariel and likes to scream for fun too!

Being this rambunctious takes a whole lot of energy. I'm just not a crazy 5 year old anymore.  I find it more fun to vacation in a 5 year old world for about an hour than actually being one anyway. I prefer scraping up my heart instead of my knees. (And boy howdy do I know how to scrape up my heart!)I prefer understanding that sometimes things just won't be ok for a while. Because now I understand on my own that there really is someone who loves me so much that he would give me experiences that help me grow. I believe in a God who loves me. I know he is real because he has answered my awkwardly worded prayers. I know he loves me because he informs me when I'm being stupid and when I know better. He also knows how to teach me to let go of my pain when I need to forgive someone. Today was a wonderful Sunday. We sang my favorite hymn and it took me back. 

With the first verse I was back on that overcast fall day in Salt Lake City 2008.

I believe in Christ; he is my King!
With all my heart to him I’ll sing;
I’ll raise my voice in praise and joy,
In grand amens my tongue employ.
I believe in Christ; he is God’s Son.
On earth to dwell his soul did come.
He healed the sick; the dead he raised.
Good works were his; his name be praised.

I was on the right side of the funeral parlor near a stained glass window.

I believe in Christ; oh blessed name!
As Mary’s Son he came to reign
’Mid mortal men, his earthly kin,
To save them from the woes of sin.
I believe in Christ, who marked the path,
Who did gain all his Father hath,
Who said to men: “Come, follow me,
That ye, my friends, with God may be.”

I remember thinking that I was too young to be saying goodbye and to be wondering if I really had a testimony of what happened after we die. 

I believe in Christ—my Lord, my God!
My feet he plants on gospel sod.
I’ll worship him with all my might;
He is the source of truth and light.
I believe in Christ; he ransoms me.
From Satan’s grasp he sets me free,
And I shall live with joy and love
In his eternal courts above.

And then every memory of Mike Hess passed through my mind. And as I sang I felt the conviction of those words in that hymn. I felt that I would not give up because I knew-I knew that this was true. God would not forsake us. There was a purpose behind death and there was a purpose behind pain. We had to learn how to feel. We had to learn how to love. And we had to learn to turn back to God and lean on him.

I believe in Christ; he stands supreme!
From him I’ll gain my fondest dream;
And while I strive through grief and pain,
His voice is heard: “Ye shall obtain.”
I believe in Christ; so come what may,
With him I’ll stand in that great day
When on this earth he comes again
To rule among the sons of men.

By this time I was avoiding eye contact with everyone in the room because my mind and heart were not focused on making announcements in relief society. I was looking upon a memory with the Savior by my side reminding me of a promise I made to him that come what may I would always stand with him no matter what I went through. And today I needed that. Out of three hours of church all it took was one hymn to bring back a rush of memories of testimony and conviction.

God reminded me today that he loves me and knows me very personally. One day when I see him again I will find great comfort in being able to see myself as he does and having all the weaknesses put into perspective. 

"True love lasts forever. It is eternally patient and forgiving. It believes, hopes, and endures all things. That is the love our Heavenly Father bears for us.

We all yearn to experience love like this. Even when we make mistakes, we hope others will love us in spite of our shortcomings—even if we don’t deserve it.

Oh, it is wonderful to know that our Heavenly Father loves us—even with all our flaws! His love is such that even should we give up on ourselves, He never will.

We see ourselves in terms of yesterday and today. Our Heavenly Father sees us in terms of forever. Although we might settle for less, Heavenly Father won’t, for He sees us as the glorious beings we are capable of becoming." Elder Wirthlin Oct 2007

I know God never gives up on us. I'm awkward and shy. I could list a whole boat load of weaknesses I have. But I am not discouraged for long Because I matter to God.  And he reminds me that everyday. Sometimes all it takes is a hymn. 

Dad, when you read this, could you do me a favor and write down 5 good things that happened to you today? I don't mean to make our bigger problems seem insignificant but I promise that once you open your heart to seeing God in your life you won't find it so hard to turn to him. He really is always there.And one day it really will be ok.

 

Oh and don't worry Pops, I'm doing all right. And as far as my dating life goes? Seducing them with my awkwardness as always ;-) Don't you worry. 

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Speaking of no longer being 5- I'm going to start graduate school this week in order to become a high school chemistry teacher....because I'm insane. And a little bit of a masochist. Wish me luck!

I'm well aware that this is math and not science. But that last dance move could totally be a globular protein!

I personally think you should be more afraid for the students but...whatever.

Better be prepared to be surprised

Some people wonder what it is like being me. Well let me give you a glimpse- be warned. This is not for the faint of heart.

I have a pretty big imagination and can easily entertain myself. So if you see me walking alone and laughing, dancing, or talking to myself...don't be surprised. I almost ran into a guy at work because I was twirling into the photo developer room. At least he smiled...or laughed at me. Come on! Got to break the monotony somehow people.

I also have my own theme music. I hear it in my mind most of the time.

I also have hopes and dreams just like everyone else.

Ok... so perhaps this is one of my less realistic dreams. I mean come on, if I wore that dress at work it would probably become radioactive by accident and I wouldn't be able to wear it for a year because it would be locked in a drawer waiting for the radio isotope to decay. I know. Tragic. -.- I still miss my pants...

ANYWAY

I, also, like most of my female friends, hold out hope that one day my prince charming will come riding up to me on a llama bearing gifts of food (not just the key to a man's heart btw). Alas, a dream is but a dream and as there is not much I can do to hurry that llama along in this instance I will just have to be patient and wait on God's timing.

For anyone who doesn't know me....I SUCK AT BEING PATIENT. I have found things to help me not focus on that as much though. Making goals really helps. But if you are me and you want me to change you're going to have put a little more effort into it than what usually works for other people. What can I say? The handy family stubborn gene is strong in me.

I, therefore, list my goals out in writing. Then I break them down into smaller steps to help the outcome seem reachable. That's all fine and good for motivating me for...a day. But if I want this to work I need to write my goals everywhere...or I will forget. I mean practically engrave them on the back of my eye lids.

For those of you worried for my roommate- no worries I only write my messages to myself on the mirrors in my room.

I even made my self a large goal board that I see from my bed at night.

And guess what? After 7 months my initial goal board goals are gone and passed. And boy did I receive the biggest surprise ever. I only finished two of them.

There was a whole BOARD!

Talk about frustration.

Poop.  My word choice at the moment for venting frustration.

These were valid goals that were going to make me a better person. I mean some things I realized needed more time than others but what about the advances in my social life and job and why was I still having such a hard time getting over health problems that had begun a year earlier? Far from forgetting me, the Lord took me on a little journey that felt like torture but was actually the best thing that could possibly be done. I had to learn things and basically be torn down and rebuilt on the inside. You can't really measure inward spiritual progress easily or character growth. How was my goal board supposed to show me that?

Let me show you an example

Old Monthly Goal: go to the temple every week (this is the latter day saint temple) for service

What Actually Happened: decided to make new covenants at temple and receive my endowment. (for those of you who aren't lds it is kind of like going through confirmation) Now I go to the temple for service and to learn more about God. This has changed my whole perspective.

Perhaps now I can dream bigger...

side note: I've decided I love this artist. Go check out the website at  ilovedoodle.com ....googling win!

So does that mean one day I'm going to wake up and not be socially awkward and be someone that people think- yeah, I can trust her because I know she won't let me down? Yes, and that will be the same day I will be issued my very own light saber.

Of course not. I will probably always let people down (and be a little socially awkward.) but as long as I am moving forward God won't let me down. No one is perfect. I'm still his daughter and it will always be better to get back up and keep trying because you never know what the next adventure will be.

Unfortunately I have not made many more goals. I have found myself once again in a place where I didn't think I would be but now I am a little excited to see what happens. Suggestions are always welcome...except from my dad because I already know what he has to say on the matter. That is what parents are for right- to be very vocal so they will be the voice in their children's heads. on repeat. love ya pops!

I'm learning that life is always better than I expected.