It's all good!

Today I have been thinking a lot about how blessed I really am! I know you hear this all the time from a million and a half people, but REALLY GUYS!! You have no idea how good we have it. Yes, we all have our rough moments, our "hard times". I come from an amazing family! I have an amazing job! I have the best friends! I just can't even express my love of how great my life is at this moment. I'm not saying this to brag or to say i'm better than you. Look around! The majority of us have it the same way!!

"It's All Good!"

Working in the insurance business I get a lot of calls where something terrible has happened to someone and I have the privilege to hear their story. I know that the word 'privilege' may seem a funny word to use in this case but, it truly is a 'privilege'! I get to have a glimpse into other's lives that I otherwise wouldn't get.

A call that I received today was really humbling. It started like any other phone call with me asking her name and member ID and asking her to verify her address. I then asked how I could help her and the story started. She started by saying that she needed to take her son to the hospital. (Not the emergency room, that was my reaction too... "What the heck are you doing calling me!? Get yourself to the ER!!!") She continued saying that she usually takes him to their physician but heir physician tells them to go to the hospital to see a specialist. Her question was if she could skip the whole referral by the physician all together. I explained to her that she could just go to the hospital without a referral. Anyway, she started explaining why she had to take him to the hospital and I couldn't believe it... her son has had these problems for the past two years where he can't maintain a healthy weight, he loses it faster than he can gain any of it back. The doctors don't know exactly what has been wrong with him and have been trying to figure it out. She explained that her son looked anorexic and that it scared her to death. She went on saying that their entire family has had a lot of health problems and that another son is now required to use a wheel chair. (she didn't give me specifics on that son.)

Now for the reason behind all of these health problems-- they had adopted a daughter a few years back, turns out that this adopted daughter has been poisoning them for the past two years. By this point she was breaking down, she was continuing her story pushing through the sobs and fighting back every tear. I was dumbfounded!! How could this girl do something like this to her adopted family? This was a family who had enough love to take in a complete stranger and except her as a part of their unit. I was speechless...

This story is the reason for why I have been thinking about how blessed I am all day. The next time I start to get frustrated that I'm stuck at home again with nothing to do, or that I have to be stuck in an awkward situation, or any other minor problem, I'm definitely going to think twice before I complain!

So, here is to life! The good, the bad, and the ugly! Taking it as it is and being thankful for all the experiences that condition us to become a better version of ourselves. As my older brother Daniel (who comes home from his mission in just about 15 hours!!! Crazy!!! [FYI]) would say, "It's All Good!" Because it really is all good!! Cheers!

In case you were wondering, the adopted daughter is now serving a sentence in jail. I'm not exactly sure how old she is or how long her sentence is. (Those aren't questions you want to bring up to the mother.) I really hope the best for this family and I hope that they will find a way to get past all of this.

I've got nothing!

I'm blank! I have been sitting here for 3 hours trying to create some sort of something to post for today but this is all I have: I'm extending a challenge to myself. This week, I am going to try and take up every opportunity that comes my way. Who knows, maybe i'll end up kissing a squirrel! Or maybe nothing exciting will happen and that will be that. We will find out!

Also, I made cookies. They are really good. You should all come and get one. They taste great and I have lots! Goodnight!! ;)

It's movie time!!

Happy Tuesday!! Every Tuesday I make a personal goal to head on over to my local theater and watch a good ol' movie. This isn't a silly goal where I want to be able to say "I've seen that movie!" or "Look at me, I'm so cool with all of my collected tickets!" (yeah, i'm one of those people) It's a goal where I take some time out of my week for some "me time". I LOVE "me time"!! Who knows you better than yourself? You don't have to worry about what someone else's needs. Why Tuesday? Simple. No one goes to the movies on Tuesday. It's a perfect "me time" day! This Tuesday was "Trouble With the Curve". I went in not expecting much, but to my surprise, it wasn't that bad. (Mostly the ending was cute and that's all.) :) 

Movie aside, that day I wasn't in the best mood... I got to the theater and sat down. The movie started, and I was starting to relax when all of a sudden I hear people whispering... whispering during a movie is fine, but today I was a little more on edge and it wasn't going to fly... The couple just a few seats down were the culprits. I sat there getting more and more annoyed as they whispered more and more. I glance over hoping that an evil little glare would shut them up. Right then was when I saw it; the way they looked at each other, the way they touched... they were happy, not only that but they were happy TOGETHER. Growing up this wasn't a normal thing to see, coming from a family where showing emotions wasn't the "normal". Don't get me wrong, I've seen people who love each other interact, but I never took the time to actually analyze it. Analyzing it now I realize, I want that! I want someone that I can love! (And show it!!) Someone who takes me the way I am! Someone I can be my whole self with! Someone to care for, hold, dance with, sing with, play with, cuddle with, and just BE with... and... and ... and... Okay, starting to sound a little desperate. Trust me, I'm not! I love my "me time", but hey, i'm just saying it could be nice to have some "we time". 

I started this blog as a way to express myself, and to let you know what goes through my head on a day to day basis. I hope you enjoy it and please, if you like something, hate something, hope for something, or just want to say something, PLEASE COMMENT!!! I would love to hear what you think or have to say! Cheers!

...and so the story begins!

Yes, yes, yes... I am starting a blog!! At the present moment I have no idea what this is going to turn into. Whether it turns into a challenge to myself, an online journal, a way to get my thoughts out there, or just a place to find myself! Whatever it is, I hope that you can enjoy it!

For those of you who don't know me, my name is Christien Miner. I am a 19 year old guy. (At the time of this post, do the math... :P) I currently work as a Customer Communications Specialist at Altius Health Plans . Pretty Shnazzy eh? (Really I just answer phones all day and talk to people about their coverage.) One of my biggest passions is music. Music is what gets me through the hard times, dances with me through the good, and smacks me in the face when I'm being stupid. In short, music is my other half. All through middle and high school, I either played and instrument or sang. Oh, singing! You will never get me to give that up! Some random things about me: I can ride the unicycle, I can whistle (really high pitched) through my nose, (Or at least I used to be able to... I can't get myself to do it right now...) I'm the one dancing in the driver seat during rush hour, or really anytime I'm in the car, I can hop on one foot and touch my nose... at the same time!!, and... yeah, no, that's all I've got right now...

I come from an amazing family of 10. My parents are divorced, it was messy, it still is, i live with my mom and siblings and we are all living and loving life!!There is my mom; she is the strongest lady I know. If you knew how much crap this woman goes through, you would think so too! Then comes Jo, my oldest sister. She is the kind of person who loves you for who you are, wants you to be the best you can be, and urges you to live your own truth! She lives in Ogden with her girlfriend Tiff, who I love as if she was my own sister. After her is my sister Karren; she is one of the sweetest people you will ever meet. She is fairly shy, but once you get to know her she is one of the funnest people to be around! Daniel is next in line. At the current moment he is on a mission in Romania, but come Wednesday the 24th, he is home!! He may seem tough and crazy at first but after a second look at him, he is as caring and loving as Barney. (without the creepy factor...) Then there is me, Christien! Wahoo! I'm pretty great... :) And then comes Nathan! Nathan is a keep to himself kind of guy. You can never tell what is going on in his head. He is the secret behind why the little kids get so riled up. The one who starts the fires and then walks away. :) I love him all the same. It's Celeste's turn! She has always been the "tom boy" of the family until recently, She is now wearing makeup, starting to care about what she looks like, and doing girly things. But then she goes out and plays flag football with all the guys. (She is a pretty well rounded girl.) Lauren on the other hand, is the girly-est girl ever! She walked out of my mom wearing a tutu and a tiara! She is the sweetest little girl and has always worried about the ones she loves. If she keeps it up she will end up doing something amazing, I know it! And last of all there is Justin, holy cow this kid can make you laugh! Some of the things he says/does far outdo the funniest comedians. This kid was a miracle right from the beginning and I'm so excited to see where he will wind up!!

So, that's us! We are your average American family... Ha! Right... however, we are pretty stinkin' AWESOME!!

Anyway, that is a little about me and why I started this blog. I'm just your average guy, trying to understand life, and overcome all the trials it brings. (At the present moment I'm kickin' it's trash and having fun doing it!)

"To live will be an awfully big adventure."
~ J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan