Amazing Fourth of July Fun!!!

In case you don't remember, I LOVE the Fourth of July!!! It is pretty much my favorite holiday ever!!! Basically it is in part because of the fireworks: the colors, the sounds, the smell, and all that fun stuff. Usually we spend some time as a family with a picnic and all that fun stuff. However, this year did not turn out that way. My parents were with my sister and my brother was up at school. Where I live, they do a big firework display on the Friday before. I watched those from a parking lot and hurried home after to get to so I could get up early the next morning. I thought about heading back to Poky for the big firework display, but nothing seemed to work out and the weather didn't look to promising Monday morning, so I stayed put.
A couple of friends and I went to a parade in a neighboring city. It was nice and the weather was perfect.




This was followed by some yummy food. I came home and cleaned a bit. I went to "Kung Fu Panda 2" which was good. Then it was off to a party and some fireworks in the same neighboring city. It was so fun!!! After that, we went back to a friend's house to watch some more fireworks. That totally made my day!!! Basically, this Fourth of July was AMAZING! :D Thanks to all those who were a part of it!

Help!!!

I am going to be speaking in church in a couple of weeks and the topic is a really tough one for me. Basically, here are the three topics that I need to incorporate:

~Pioneers
~Establishing a Christ-Centered Home (Conference talk from April 2011)
~Developing Celestial Traditions

As I have read through this talk and some scriptures on traditions, I realized how family-centered this talk is going to be. I feel completely out of my league. Tonight I have been searching the Internet for some pioneer stories that could be used. Does anyone have any suggestions where to look or have any stories or thoughts.

Please share!!!

Thanks! :D

Good News!!!

I Got A Job!!!

It has been over 7 months, and they have not been the easiest months in the world. However, they have taught me a lot about who I am and what I really need and want in life. It has been eye opening.

Last Thursday, I learned that I would have one job interview on Monday afternoon. The next day, I did a phone interview and got called back for a face-to-face interview on Monday morning. Two interviews in one day. After the interviews, I had a preference of which job I would prefer and was super-excited to hear back from them. On Thursday, I found out I had not received one of the jobs. Shortly after that discovery, the job that I was excited about called me and asked me to come in for another interview. It was so exciting. They told me that I would hear back either that night or Friday morning. After 5, I determined it would be the next day because the office closes at 5. I got a call around 6:45 offering me the job! I am so excited and it is going to be a fabulous experience! I will be the Office Assistant for Kathy Kaye Foods! I start Monday!

It is such a blessing to get a job and I know that it is a direct result of all the prayers that have been made in my behalf during this time. Thank you all for your love and support and prayers!!! You are the greatest family and friends ever!!!

Falling Into Place

“Most folks are about as happy as they make their minds up to be.” – Abraham Lincoln

It seems like the past couple of months, things have been up in the air and, at times, I have seriously doubted if things were ever going to work out. It is hard to believe the peace that comes when they start. My life has gone from boring to exciting and fun. I am truly happy with the direction it is heading.

As mentioned in the previous post, I have started attending a family ward and it is amazing. I can now walk to church and also am ready to learn so much. It is great!

My internship is keeping me busy and I am developing a passion for the organization. This past week I was given the opportunity to teach future volunteers and train them. It was crazy to think that I could teach that after such a short time, but it was great!

On Wednesday, I was set apart as an ordinance worker for the temple and start bright and early on Saturday. When I say early, I mean 5 am. It is going to be fabulous and I am super-excited for the opportunity.

I had a phone interview for a job today and have another interview for a different job on Monday, with the possibility of another one next week. This is great because I was beginning to feel stagnant in the job hunt.


“God helps those who help themselves.” – Benjamin Franklin

It seems like I have been directed to do so many things lately and have had no clue why. Now, I am beginning to see what a blessing they were in my life and am so thankful for the time I have had to discover these blessings. However, I recognize that I need to keep working towards the goals I have and doing my best, so that the blessing will continue to come.

A Quick Update

Life is Great!!!!!!



I was tempted just to put that, but I decided that you may want more description than that. The past couple weeks have been super-fun and super-busy! I love it! It seemed rare to have a day or night when there was nothing to do, which is nice for someone who likes to stay busy.

The decision has been made. As of this Sunday, I will begin to attend a conventional ward. This was a hard decisions. After a lot of praying and also talking with both Bishops, it feels so right. It is going to be good!

My social life has been loads of fun. I have been able to spend a lot of time with a lot of different friends and make some new ones too. There has been time for dinners, bike rides, hikes, movie nights, plays, and more. My friends are the best.

I was invited to attend a stake woman's conference. It was amazing. The speaker was Emily Watts and the food was incredible. Thanks Jenny for the invite. Also, Jenny has taken good care of me and let me attend church with her, play with her kids and treated me to something that could easily become a new favorite.... Twizleberry!!! So Good!!! You are the best ever Jenny!!!

I have also done a little bit of short road trips. I spent one day in Salt Lake to take a friend to the airport and to attend another friend's bridal shower. Yesterday, I went to Ogden to meet up with my sister and her family at the Tree house Museum, which was really neat.

On top of all of this, I have started an internship with the Bridgerland Literacy Center. It has been a pretty incredible experience and there is so much to do. We are constantly looking for more volunteers to tutor and help, as well as raise funds so that more people can learn to read, write, and more. This is an awesome opportunity to help others.

All of this has kept me busy, so in short, Life is Great!!!

Gastroparesis

This is not the easiest entry for me to write. For some reason, I have tried to avoid drawing attention to this medical condition that has plagued me for 5 1/2 years now. I received an email from a friend today with a link to a news story on a girl who struggled with gastroparesis. Please check it out. The story is great. Here is that link:

"Saving Gentrie: Teen Survives Tough Battle Against Disease that Paralyzed Her Stomach"

In some cases, she suffered far more than I did. However, when I first started getting sick, I was not diagnosed for six months or more. I, too, was placed on Reglan and many other medicines, that were not always the cheapest. The constant throwing up was not as terrible as her's was, but it was still a nightmare at times. We even discussed the possiblility of putting tubes in me to help me get the utrients that I needed. I was also asked numerous times if I had an eating disorder. It was really frustrating. I still struggle daily with different aspects of gastroparesis, but some days are definitely better than others.

Since my diagnosis, I have had many tests and actually been told twice that I am a candidate for the gastric pacemaker. Unlike the story, the first time this option came up was when I was talking to a doctor in Utah who suggested the procedure. At the point, I was told that it was experimental and insurance would not cover it. I have heard that it is less experimental now, but am fighting the insurance battle currently.

I do not write this posts to complain. There have been so many blessings that I have seen in my life that are a direct result from this trial and condition that I have. I have learned how to live a happy, fulfilling life, while dealing with this condition. It was hard to regulate what I can and cannot eat and portion size,but it has made a difference. This is more to inform people that this is a real condition that needs attention. On the side of this blog, you can find links to websites that contain more information about this condition.

Though I do not claim to know everything about this condition, please feel free to ask me questions that you may have. I will do my best to answer them. Although I know a cure is still a long ways off, it is possible to raise awareness.

Oh Mud!

This spring has been a rather cold and wet one, especially in this neck of the woods, so to speak. About two weeks ago (it was a Monday) I finally got really fed up with it. Let's just say Monday's are my day where I spend the first part on campus and usually have some other things to get done. That Monday was totally disgusting in the fact that everywhere I stepped there were big, fat, juicy worms. They were literally everywhere. Usually, I just avoid and ignore them, but it was impossible. In fact, at one point, a worm fell from my friend's garage door and almost landed on her. It was gross.

My roommate and I got to talking and she mentioned that she wanted worms.... Gummy Worms! Then we formulated a brilliant idea, reverting back to childhood days.





MUD CUPS!!!! (aka Dirt Cups)

We made these and invited a few friends over to enjoy them. These are the kind of worms and mud that I like. They tasted fabulous and made a yucky day better! :D