Under The Microscope

For Good?.... Or Bad?

So I found out today that I am currently sitting underneath a microscope at work. To give you the back story without boring you with all of the specifics there is currently a contest going on at work. What it comes down to is who performs the best customer service on calls. There are 5 things that they look for. This competition is for all employees located throughout 6 different call centers that Discover has. I have no idea on the exact number of people that were originally involved but I know that between the 2 call centers based here in salt lake there are more than 1000 employees. I think that those are two of the bigger call centers. The winner gets $2500!

The first cuts took it from however many employees are involved down to 300. And the second cuts just came out and took that down to 12. And my name made that list which means I get at least $50! I found that out this past Saturday and being the Wood that I am (sorry to any Wood's that take offense to that, I am definetly the worst at this) had no plans to mention it. That was until I got called into my Department Manager's Office today. I recently (2 months ago) got a new Department Manager and I don't think that I have spoken to him at all. There has been the nod as we pass each other but that is pretty much it. He is a really quite guy and you should know that I am quite as well until I get to know someone. He called me in because in a meeting yesterday with many of the upper management of the slc call centers there my name got brought up as person that was doing on phone calls what they want each of us to do and what they are trying to get us to emphasize. (My department has always been about sales and only sales, but they want us to be more customer oriented than we have been before. While still including a solid product offer.)

Apparently it doesn't end there. A couple of hours later, my coach tried to listen in on my calls to do some coaching with me as he is required to each month. He told me afterwords that he wasn't able to, because my calls were already being listened to by someone (or someones who knows). So for who knows how long I have had / and will have however many people listening to my calls. I am honored by this as it is for a good reason that they are listening to me but at the same time I don't like being watched. Because while I am sure they will see all of the good things that I do, I have to be on my best behavior so I don't get in trouble for cutting any corners that I may or may not have done on an occasional call. I can't imagine them listening to me that much more, but they have already done it more than I would have expected so who knows. (Comment on my own post, I definetly went into more detail than I originally intended. Sorry to all who got bored.)

STAR WARS CAROLS?

Watch out Nickel Creek, here comes Bluegrass Thunder!

Tonight was a great night. I went to see my brother Ben in his bluegrass band. It was so awesome! They played some great Christmas music, and it was amazing to see my brother up onstage performing and totally rocking a fiddle.

This video was Ben taking the solo on Orange Blossom Special. It's so freaking crazy how fast he is playing. I love it!



My parents, Ben and Ben's violin teacher, Jeanne Grover, after the show. He took violin for I don't know how long. She came down to support him with about thirty other people.


Other Fans: Kylee, Mckenna and Dallin came down to see Ben.

So did brother Mike.

A Tale of Two Thanksgivings!!!!

This was our first Thanksgiving as a married couple. And it was a great day. Full of two different families and traditions. Lance is below getting the turkey ready. He ia a phenomenal cook, and I love to go over for great foods of all sorts!


We started our day at the Wood household. Below you see a very common occurrence. The three oldest grandkids gathering around their favorite (I admit it, I'm not ashamed to be second, or third) Aunt Stephanie. She is amazing with kids, and had loads of activities to keep them entertained for hours.
Nicole, one of the most charming people you will ever meet, lays across her Aunt Wendy. If you knew this girl, she would probably be lying across your lap too. There is no one she cannot wrap around her little finger.

After dinner, Dave showed us his VIP contact in his phone: Santa Claus! Yep, Dave has the actual number to the jolly guy. I love Justin's face. He is so elated!


Then Jeff and I ventured over to the Plowman clan. Below, Jana and Jessica demonstrate what has become the most disgusting tradition (that I included) we do. Jana, Jessica and I gather around the turkey as it comes out of the oven, and we peel and eat the skin. I know it's disgusting, but it is so good!



Annual football game. It was a little colder this year than past, but it didn't stop the game or lessen the numbers.


Baby Kira... yes, she is sticking her tongue out at you.


"Want to touch the camera!" Baby Jackson.


Grandpa braved the weather and took three grandkids to the park!

Don't be a scrub.

Joseph B. Wirthlin

Elder Wirthlin passed away this week, and I would feel badly if I did not mention how much I love this man. He has been my favorite speaker in conference for years. Probably since I seriously started watching it over ten years or so ago. I understand that he did not always have the best delivery, but what he said touched me each time, and somehow, it would always be the talk that I remembered. He is my favorite. He always speaks on love. He almost always spoke about overcoming trials and pain. I feel like he speaks right from his heart to me.

When I was sick last year, by dad printed out a quote for me from my most favorite of Elder Wirthlin's talks. The quote is as follows:

"Each of us will have our own Fridays-those days when the universe itself seems shattered and the shards of our world lie littered about us in pieces. We all will experience those broken times when it seems we can never be put together again. We will all have our Fridays. But I testify to you in the name of the One who conquered death-Sunday will come. In the darkness of our sorrow, Sunday will come. No matter our desperation, no matter our grief, Sunday will come. In this life or the next, Sunday will come."

I love this quote. I repeated it every morning to myself during my treatments. The simple words "Sunday will come" was my mantra and gave me strength when I needed it. I can't really express how this talk has touched me, but it truly changed the way I look at things.

Maybe the most wonderful thing is that Sunday really does come, and for me, it came. I had Jeff through that whole experience. He was my light during a dark time. He loved me through cancer. He asked me to be his wife. We were sealed in the temple surrounded by family and loved ones. I didn't know that life could be so wonderful.

I am grateful for this good man, and his legacy that is left behind. Here are a few more quotes from his most recent talk, "Come What May and Love It" that I love:

The next time you’re tempted to groan, you might try to laugh instead. It will extend your life and make the lives of all those around you more enjoyable.

He who descended below all things will come to our aid. He will comfort and uphold us. He will strengthen us in our weakness and fortify us in our distress. He will make weak things become strong

The simple secret is this: put your trust in the Lord, do your best, then leave the rest to Him.

If we approach adversities wisely, our hardest times can be times of greatest growth, which in turn can lead toward times of greatest happiness.