Kids These Days

I've just been thinking lately about how kids these days have such easy access to technology and media.  And because of how easy it is to access these things, how so so so many people do indulge themselves.  These are just the times that we live in. 

This here is my niece. She's four. She's easily one of my very favorite human beings. Since she was two or so, she knew better than her dear Auntie how to navigate Grandma's "purple phone" AKA my mom's iPod touch. (Sidenote: My niece came up with that name herself. Porque it has a purple case, I'm quite sure.) A year ago, playing with Primary song sing-along apps and using YouTube to find princess videos were among some of her favorite activities on Grandma's Purple Phone. I'm still not over how amazing that is. 

(Grandma even put Tangled on the Purple Phone for her. What a privileged child.)

That being said--what will life be like for our children? Especially considering the rate at which technology advances, I wonder what the norm will be for our preschool, grade school, and high school aged children in comparison to what the norm is now. I suspect laptops, tablets, iPhones, etc. aren't going to go away very easily. Are they just going to become even more widespread? How will that affect our children's interactions with friends and peers?

I'm just dying really excited to find out.

Literally Therapeutic

There's something so great, so therapeutic for me in attending concerts and shows.

Last week, I had the pleasure of seeing Geographer and Freelance Whales, two of only some of my favorites.  I had been pretty stressed that day. So much so, that there was debate of whether or not it would be a good idea to even go. Within minutes of hearing the first song, however, every little stress that I had accumulated and held on to was gone. Literally in an instant. And that was only the beginning of a much needed stress-relieving experience.

My gift to you, if you haven't already had the pleasure (Geographer, acoustic-style):

Thanks, Disney!

Not very often am I excited about a movie to come out into theaters--especially these days. Either everything that might potentially look interesting is rated "R"or, you know, it just doesn't look all that interesting. If I could right this second, I would thank Disney for their little gem they like to call "Wreck-It Ralph." It ACTUALLY looks like something I want to see.

And NOW I'm excited.

Status Updates.

Once upon this one day, I decided to do something that I usually don't like to do. And that is, to update my status on Facebook TWICE in one day. It's just kind of this weird personal preference that I have to not do such things. I think if people need to hear from me twice in one day, they can call me. Or come visit me in person. But I digress. So apparently this said day, I felt like I had two good things to say to the Facebook world. And here's what happened.

It just struck me as a curious thing. I mean, I'm sure that a lot of this has to do with my timing and what comes up on my friends' News Feeds, but from first glance? From first glance, something seems fishy. 

Shifting Paradigm

I think that there are so many great uses of technology that can definitely be used for good. But could someone benefit if we approach technology more as a missionary tool than a means of communication or entertainment?  I could certainly do a lot better about using this technology as a means of spreading the gospel.  I just know that there's someone out there who needs to hear the good news of the gospel from me.  And I hope that I can be there for them.

"Preach the gospel at all times. And, if necessary, use words."

Just Pretty Grateful

There was a man named George Dawson who learned to read at the age of 92 years old.  When he turned 98, he then wrote his story in a book called "Life is So Good." I really recommend it. But my point here is that I think many of us probably take for advantage is our abilities to read. I'm pretty sure I do.  

I am just pretty grateful for this ability that I have been blessed with, for it allows me to consume all kinds of new information each day. That's all. 

The Power of Cell Phones

In less than thirty seconds time, I contacted a good friend of mine that I hadn't heard from in months via text this past week. And it was like she was right there next to me; the response time was impeccable. Thanks to the technology we have today.

It's amazing to me the power of the cell phone. 

I never new life without the cell phone very well, but I can attempt to imagine how different that was from today. The advancement time of cell phones itself is one particularly amazing thing. From my childhood to now, there have been so many changes to the mobile phone. I remember my mom having a huge bulky phone that only worked if you pulled out the antennae. Needless to say, sending a text message was not an option. Let alone an address book with enough space for all of your contacts. When I received my first cell phone, when I was 16, I was allowed to text, I remember it being a newly created. With that, I was only allowed to send and receive 200 messages per month.

But today--today we can do way more than just call and text 200 times per month. We can hold an infinite amount of contacts on our phones, watch TV, download documents, check any and every kind of social media. 

My one hope is that I'm using this amazing, innovative blessing of a cell phone for the best.