Monday, June 23, 2008

Happy Birthday to ME!

Yesterday was my birthday and I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who made it great! It is kind of poopy having it on a Sunday, but for what it was worth, it was awesome. I got to have a bbq with my best friends on Saturday. Then Sunday Brian and I went to church, then to my Grandma's for my PERFECT birthday dinner with all of my favorite foods. Then Brian and I had our own time to open presents and just hang out.

Oh, have I ever mentioned he is the best boyfriend ever!?!?! Well he is! He surprised me first on Friday by taking me to Salty Peaks (which is like a skate/snowboard store) and told me to pick out any long board I want!!! It has been something I have wanted for over a year but I have not had the money to buy myself. He tried to pick one out but figured it would just be best to surprise me and let me pick out my own. Of course I got a kickin RED one that rocks my world. So that was my first present. Then Sunday, he told me he had a couple more presents. Well since I had already got a freaking tight long board, I thought it would be something simple. Well part of it was. He gave me a way cute shirt, a DVD about Gordon B. Hinckley because he knows how much I loved him, and an I-Tunes gift card because I spend way to much of my money on that. I was so happy with all of those! But then came the best part! He bought me a brand new digital camera!!! I was absolutely shocked! And the best part is it is RED!!! He also got me a red case to keep it safe in. I couldn't believe it! He puts so much thought into every present he gets me and I love it. It makes birthday's and Christmas so amazing because I always get something I have always wanted or something completely thoughtful. I love him so much!!! So that was my birthday...and it was fantastic!

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

MDA Camp 2008

I just got home yesterday from MDA camp. It was seriously the best one I have ever had in 5 years of volunteering. My camper Kelsi and I had our own room pretty much the whole week so it was much more comfortable. We had THE BEST group ever. MAVERICK PRIDE! We dominated almost everything and ended up winning by a landslide compared to the other groups. But most of all, I got to know so many amazing people and hang out with the kids who are my heroes.
If any of you ever get a chance, I would recommend taking a week off next summer and volunteering for this camp. It will change your life. I am humbled every single time I go. I am incredibly grateful for my health. I take advantage of being able to do little things as simple as brushing my own teeth, picking something off the table, and being able to get comfortable in bed every night without someone there to move my body into a certain position. Those are the type of things I help Kelsi do each year along with much much more. I can not imagine not being able to do things on my own, and these kids live every moment of every day relying on other people.

What is especially sad is the fact that there is no cure for this disease. These kids talk all the time about how excited they are for doctor's to find a cure for Muscular Dystrophy, but a lot of them will not live long enough to see it happen. Some of the kids, like Kelsi, are still even a mystery to doctor's on what type of MD they have. It is so complex that they can not figure it out, let alone try to find a cure for it. It breaks my heart each year to have to leave because you never know which kids will be there next year, and which ones will pass on. I can truly say it is the one thing I have done in my life that has made me into the person I am today. I have learned to have so much compassion for everyone, no matter who they are or what they look like. It is something that is incredibly dear to my heart.

Even if you can not make it as a volunteer, please donate during the telethons or the "Fill the Boot" drive the Firefighters do. It will help the kids I love continue to have a fighting chance to survive and hopefully one day find a cure for muscular dystrophy.

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Why I love Brian

So yesterday I went to the dentist and had to have a crown done on my back tooth. It was no fun at all. Right as they were going to put the temporary crown on, they found more decay so they had to pretty much drill and all that stuff again! During this time, my mouth and jaw wanted to just fall off. I have a tiny mouth as it is so stretching it to extreme measures is never enjoyable. Anyway, 2 hours later, I was finally done. So I called Brian and told him about it. I told him I can't eat anything chewy for a couple of weeks (meaning gum, caramel, that kinda stuff). Well he took it that I couldn't CHEW for 2 weeks. So I got to his house later and he had a "chew free" dinner ready for me. Soup, soft biscuits, and ice cream. He misunderstood what I meant, but the best part was he was trying so hard to be helpful and thoughtful so I couldn't help but smile (even though my mouth was still numb and sore). He has dinner ready for me every single time I go to his house. He sure does take care of me and I love him so much for it!

Monday, June 9, 2008

Ready for something new


So I don't give much of an update about my life, just silly little things. But I am off to start a new part of my life. I have been working at Escalante Elementary School for the past year and a half doing assistant work, working with special ed students, and this past year as an AmeriCorps Volunteer in Literacy.

Well the school year ended last Thursday and I really was sad. I cried as I walked out because all of the little kids gave me hugs and told me how much they would miss me. I couldn't help but get emotional. It has been an amazing place to work and I LOVE the kids. From my experiences there, I have decided to take a new road and try out Special Education.

So...I am going back to school. I am doing a program called the ATP program. Pretty much it is a chance for college graduates (like myself) to get their teaching licenses in a short amount of time. Plus, I get to be hired on as a teacher while I am going to school. So I get all the benefits teachers get before I technically have my license. Here is a reason why I love my job!

I am so excited! The resource teacher I have been sharing a room with all year sent me home this week with 4 boxes of stuff to have in my classroom. I was so grateful for it! I can not wait to find out where I will be teaching! Once I know, I will post it. But I couldn't help but share my exciting news with you all!!!

Thursday, June 5, 2008

Oh the memories...

Fill this out about your SENIOR year of high school! The longer ago it was, the more fun the answers will be!! It is fun and enjoyable...

1. Did you date someone from your school? I went on dates with people from my school, but I never dated anyone.

2. Did you win anything in Senior's Who's Who? Nope

3. What kind of car did you drive? a 1983 Mazda 626...aka The Little Brown Bomb

4. It's Friday night...where are you? The Dollar Movies, Dees, or someone's house.

5. Were you a party animal? Nope.

6. Were you considered a flirt? I don't know, probably but I didn't realize I was.

7. Were you in band, orchestra, or choir? Not my senior year

8. Were you a nerd? Probably a little, but who isn't

9. Did you get suspended/expelled? No I was the good kid

10. Can you sing the fight song? I think it goes "Hillcrest High School, Hillcrest High School,Fight on for your team. Rally 'round the green and white and show that we can fight HHS! Hillcrest High School Hillcrest High School, Awesome is our name. Fight Hillcrest Fight to show we'll win the game!!!"

11. Who were your favorite teachers? Ms. Hable and her incense burning, Enya playing ways. Mrs. Housekeeper cause she rocked. And Mrs. Payne because she was so ditzy you could talk her into anything, including giving you an A, and she would do it. It was fantastic!

12. Where did you sit during lunch? Depended on the day. A Days in the cafeteria. B Days in the hall by the choir room.

13.What was your school's full name? Hillcrest High School

14. School mascot? Huskies, you have to admit thats a pretty cool mascot.

15. Did you go to Homecoming and who with? I actually never went to Homecoming. I felt bad then, but now I realize it did not matter one bit.

16. If you could go back and do it again, would you? That's an H*** no! It was fun while it lasted, but I loved college and my life right now is a million and a half times better!

17.What do you remember most about graduation? Watching everyone cry and not being sad and thinking I had no soul (until I saw Cami that is), seeing Woody the second I walked out the door and him giving me the best hug ever, staying up all night at Hollywood Connection, and then taking off the next day to Bear Lake with no sleep. Probably not the safest thing to do.

18. Where did you go senior skip day? I don't think we technically had one of those.

19 Were you in any clubs? Seminary Council, Senior Pride, and FCCLA...I have no clue why on the last one.

20. Have you gained some weight since then? Yes, I was the size of a gymnast back then. Things have changed for sure

21. Who was your prom date? Chris Wood...aka Woody. And it was one of the best nights! Everything about it was perfect. I will always love my Woody!!! haha

22. Are you planning on going to your 10 year reunion? Well, considering I did not even go to my 5 year reunion, chances are I won't go to the 10 year either. But you never can tell...