Indexing

I have been trying to find ways to keep me distracted on Sundays, besides taking a nap...about a month and a half ago I decided to try indexing. Indexing is when you look at different types of records (birth, death, passports, draft cards, etc) and type the names and dates. These are then uploaded to the church and are submitted as temple names. I have never really been interested in indexing, but with morning church that leaves me a long afternoon and evening to try and fill. It then became a goal of my ward and stake to index so many names a month and a year. So I try to do some indexing each Sunday. The problem is that I think every ward/stake is starting to really push indexing and the website can't handle everyone. I few weeks I have had it crash on me...oh well I will try to continue to find good ways to spend my Sunday afternoon.

Kmart Santa

I don't blog much, mainly because I don't have a very interesting life. In fact, my life is kind of boring and I don't think anyone else wants to hear about it. But every Christmas I try to find a way to help someone out during the holiday season. I got it from my mom, we did the 12 day of Christmas for many years where we ding dong ditched presents at homes. I have been extremely blessed in my life and I like to help others when I can.

Kmart has gotten a lot of press recently about people coming in and making payments on random layaway orders. I had read a bunch about this and even saw some news reports, finally on Friday I just knew I needed to do it. I have no idea who I helped, but I helped someone pay off some toys and clothing for there kids. It was awesome, and surprisingly not the easiest thing to do in the world. When we finally found someone that could help us that wasn't super busy, they looked at us like we were crazy...but then realized it would be really nice if someone did that for them. Since we didn't have a name, phone number, or contract number of someone in specific they looked up a contract that had at least one toy on layaway. A friend went with me and she payed $25 on an account that owed $60. Then they randomly picked another account and I payed $50 on account still owed over $500. I have no idea who I helped or what they will think when they find out, but I hope they pay it forward. I think my favorite part of the whole experience was telling my parents about it. They were so happy, I love them so much.

Donating Blood

I have always been one of those people that came up with some excuse why I couldn't give blood when my school did a blood drive. I knew that I should and that I really didn't have an excuse, but I just never did. I've never been a fan of needles, I'm not really afraid of them, but I don't like them, but really I can't think of one normal person that does like needles. My school had there annual blood drive today and for the first time in my life I donated blood!!! Many of my students were working at the blood drive and they convince me to do it. I will admit I was a little worried, but I know how to hide it. It was totally worth giving blood for all the snacks you get after. Although I didn't get sit around and relax very long because I had to get back to my room before lunch was over. Not only did I get some pretty sweet snacks, but they were also giving out t-shirts for anyone that donated, I guess they were trying to bribe the students. Most students that gave blood, simply did it because they wanted to get out of class.

Helpuu

I was playing around on the Internet and I came across www.helpuu.com, this is a serch engine that uses proceeds collected from advertisments go to feeding hungry children around the world. I'm hoping that this is real, it is a great way to perform service for those in need around the world. I'm always looking for ways to help people so I will try to use this more often. I have added the information that I found about Helpuu. Do with it what you want.

Helpuu is a google-powered search engine that enables everybody to help great charities by simply searching the internet. The Helpuu search engine is extremely reliable and efficient through the use of Google's award-winning search algorithm. Everytime you search, proceeds from advertisers, that are raised through the use of the Helpuu search engine are then donated to various charities and non-profit organizations. We feature various charities and then equally distribute the proceeds to each charity.

Search engine usage is growing everyday as millions of people a day search the internet. Helpuu enables you to find your results and at the same time, help others. The ability to help others through simply doing something you would do anyway is easy and effective. Imagine being able to help a person by brushing your teeth or taking a nap. You can do something you would do anyways and at the same time increase good in the world. We strongly believe that within every person, there is a strong desire to help others. Sometimes, we don't know how or in what way we can improve the world. Through using Helpuu, you can revolutionze how people help each other and also feel great about changing the world one search at a time.

How can you help?
We encourage you to set Helpuu as your home page ( Make Homepage ) . Every person that sets their homepage as Helpuu during the course of a month, is equivalent to feeding a starving child for about 3 weeks. If only 5% of the US population were to use Helpuu to search, 1,000,000 hungry kids could be fed every single day. Each person who uses Helpuu is making a difference. Remember every bit counts! Help us spread the word about Helpuu by telling your friends and family to set it as their home page.
We hope that through using Helpuu, we all can strive to be a little better and be mindfull of the less fortunate around us. Open a door, donate your time, or even let out a smile. As we strive to help others, our own lives will become enriched.

Toy Cars

Well Happy Factory is almost over, only one more week. Honestly I am happy and sad that it is over, but there is nothing I can do about it either way. Here is a picture sanding one of the toy cars. We made about 215 cars in about three days in the wood shop, we fell short of our goal of 250, but it was enough. It is a great experience working with tools like that, but I prefer not to.

That sander might look fun, but it is going extremely fast and if you get to close, you fingers will get sanded down in a hurry. Sanding was just part of about a six step process of taking a block of wood and turning into a car that is ready to be painted. It was a lot of work and it is really hot in the wood shop with all those machines going.

Finally, Wood Shop

Part of being in the Happy Factory Council is we get to help cut out the wooden cars that everyone gets to paint. Normally the council gets into the wood shop in the first few weeks of the semester. But for some reason last night was the first time we got to go, and there is only four weeks left of school. It is a long and frustrating story, so I will spare you the boring details. We have committed to provide 250 cars for a youth project on July 3. So last night we worked for about three hours making these cars. At first I was pretty worried, I didn't trust myself around high powered saws, drills, and sanders. I spent most of the time sanding the cars, I felt like that would be the safest thing for me to do. At one point I did work the big huge drill, I have to admit it was a little scary, but some how I left with all my fingers. It was a great experience and I can't want until next week so I can go again. I still think the school is crazy trusting me with using their tools. But it was way cool to see the process of it going from a old piece of wood to a object easily recognizable as a toy car.

Happy Factory

I am not taking a full load of classes this semester so I thought I would fill my time with other things. I wanted to do something good with my time, so I signed up for a service council. I was assigned to work on Happy Factory. Happy Factory is a great and unique way to perform service. It is a program that cuts out wooden toy cars, paints the cars, and then adds wheels. Once assembled the cars are sent to Salt Lake City, where The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints sends them out all over the world to children that have a trying life. We hope that by providing these toys we can give a little bit of happiness to someone in need. It is a great program and I am so happy that I have gotten involved it.

I spend two to three nights every week working on Happy Factory, whether it be actually painting the cars, or making sure we have enough supplies for who ever might want to participate. I get to play with toys and perform service at the same time, what more can I ask for. The school makes about 40 cars per week and about 30 people volunteer each Thursday night when we paint the cars. Everyone has a blast painting and meeting new people at the same time.