St. George Trip #2

So my roommates and I just got back from St. George this past weekend. It was nice to be able to go on a quick vacation right after my summer semester ended. Which brings me to another point, I AM THROUGH WITH SCHOOL FOR 8 WEEKS! Anyway, we went down friday night, went hiking and swimming on saturday and then went to Les Miserables at Tuachan Saturday night and then drove home that night. For anyone who hasn't seen Les Miserables, you really should go see it. Check out Tuachan's website to see if they are still selling tickets. You won't regret going, it's incredible. So about the movie I attached, yes, I did get a cactus in my bum. As you watch the video, you will be able to see why I have the world's greatest roommates. Needless to say, it's never a dull moment around our place.

The U

So my roommates and I have been making frequent trips to the U on Sundays to read conference talks, share insights, figure out girl problems, share stories, and just talk. It's been really enjoyable and something that I can see happening a lot more. It's a great sabbath activity cause it's like a 2 minute hike up there. The view is really pretty from there as you look out onto the Salt Lake Valley. If anyone ever wants a guided tour, just let me know. :)

I can only imagine.......

With having done a half-marathon and the 2/3-alon and having worked with many people with disabilities, this is very inspirational to me. I got a little teary-eyed the first time I saw this. Truly inspirational, motivational, and amazing! Dick and Rick Hoyt are a father and son team who together compete in iron man races that consist of 26.2 miles of running, 112 miles of bicycling, and 2.4 miles of swimming. Enjoy!

2/3-alon

They put our race number and age on the back of our legs and our race number on our arms.

Steve and I afterward hugging the finish line, glad to be glad that it was over. :)

By the finish line after I ran through a little bit before.

The swim! So the water was very choppy and I kept getting kicked by people. I wasn't as ready for the swim as I should have been. It killed me, but I finished it. On my way to the transition point to change into some dry clothes and into my shoes and socks, I threw up in my mouth. :)

Getting ready for the swim. The water was cold!

Steve and I standing in front of the bikes that we'd never get to ride for the race. :(

So in my rush to get all my stuff out of my car for the race, I accidentally locked my keys in the car and had to get the Salem police to come over and help me out. :)

On the bridge looking down at the water we'd be in the next morning.

My roommate Steve and I after we got our bag of goodies for checkin.

So I signed up to do the Salem Spring Triathalon. I got ready for it and was really excited to do it. However, the morning of the race, it was really rainy and so they cancelled the biking portion of the race. :( So we only got to do the swimming and running portions. (hence the 2/3-alon) It was a fun experience though. I hope that someday I will be able to do the whole thing. I had to pay a bunch of money to rent a bike and a wetsuit so I probably won't be doing a ton in the future, but I'm hoping that for sure I'll do another one sometime.

Summer Classes

Well, by the looks of the pictures below I'm sure it won't be difficult to see that my classes this semester aren't as intense as the ones last semester. We had an activities analysis class that we did different activities that we analyzed to see how people's body's work as they do certain things. Even though the class was mainly fun, we did have a lot of paper work that we had to fill out at the end of the day to analyze the activity. However, it was a great class and a great break from the intense schedule last semester. This summer's semester is divided into 2 halfs. The first half (which we just finished) was split into the activities analysis class and a theory class. Now, I am taking an occupational therapy in the community class and a seminar class where we are learning manual muscle testing, transfers, range of motion test, etc.

Summer Special Olympics in Provo. We helped do physical assessments with the athletes. It was a fun experience. It made me excited for my career someday.

This is the electrically wired fan that I made.

Lacey and I were in charge of teaching the class how to do Yoga. We decided to dress up and look like idiots.

Me in my 80's exercise attire for Yoga teaching class.

Country Western swing day.

Knitting day. That's right, yes, I do know how to knit now. :)

U of U's OT Class of 2010 in front of our building.

Animal balloon day. I'd be lieing if I said I didn't pop any balloons this day. :)

Me just chillin on the grass while we were working on a case study for our theory class. Can you tell that I'm really focused?

For our class relay race, I was put on the portion where you have to transport grains for rice from one bowl to another with chopsticks.

GOODBYE SPRING 2008 SEMESTER!!!!

This was shown to me, and I just really enjoyed it. :)

10 zillion points for the greatest room mates ever! All that needs to be said is that we have some fun in our place.

Steve, Mike, Ben, and I in San Francisco during spring break. So much fun! A definately needed break from school.

Jillian and I's first date. I met and started dating her this semester. Toga, Toga, Toga.

My reaction after I got out of giving the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure for the first time to an actor pretending he had depression. I passed!!!!

Volunteering at the Jazz games to raise money for our program. Never shall I ever buy a pretzel, churro, nacho, popcorn, or hot dog from there ever again.


Groups class. Good ol' Ethel, how I miss her so....... :)





This semester is finally over! I am very excited about that. It's been a semester that I've really had to ask myself if I really want to be an occupational therapist.........but the answer was always, yes I do. There were weeks that I averaged 4 hours of sleep and had quizzes, tests, papers, projects nonstop. It sometimes became laughable at how much they expected of us in a week. I feel stupid for saying this, but some mornings found me overwhelmed with life with tears in my eyes because of not knowing if I could do one more day.......... I not only learned a lot about my classes in psychosocial, groups, neuroanatomy, research, and fieldwork/seminar, but I learned SO much about life and about finding a good balance. Probably the biggest lesson I learned was the blessings that are promised from putting God FIRST in your life. I love the scripture in 3 Nephi 13:33 where it says, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you." I also pondered much about President Faust's quote when he said, "If you have not chosen the kingdom of God first, it will in the end make no difference what you have chosen instead." I have found these to be very true. I told myself that I was going to continue to not study on Sunday, go weekly to FHE and institute, and attend the temple every Thursday night. Doing these things every week was NOT an easy thing, especially when there was a huge test or project staring at me the next day. But Heavenly Father sure did take care of me. One of the most difficult things I had to do this semester was turning my grades over to the Lord. As many of you know, I have been a little particular about my grades and have really worked hard to maintain a good GPA. I knew that if I was going to find a good balance in life, I wasn't going to be able to maintain my ideal GPA. But I knew that if I put my grades in His hands, I would be able to pass my classes and stay in the program and learn the information I need to become the best therapist I can become. Since I turned my grades over to Him, I have been so much happier and less stressed. I know that He will take care of me and that if I continue to do my part and put Him first, I will be just fine. I just stand all amazed at how much love he showered upon me this semester. I was able to meet some amazing people, experience amazing things, see miracles happen, and daily see the love of Heavenly Father through the countless tender mercies He gives me. Although it's been a semester of great learning, it will definately go down in the record books as the most difficult EVER. I start Summer semester in a little over a week. I've never had summer school before, so here we go...............

March Yellowcard Concert

Mike and I and the lead singer of Yellowcard. Incredible Concert

Reflections of the True Light

So this morning I was studying about the light of Christ for my scriptures study. As I was studying, I remembered this story that I heard in one of my classes. It’s about a doctor of philosophy named Alexander Papederos. He gave a conference in Crete at a Greek Orthodox monastery. At the end of the conference Papederos asked if anyone had any questions. The author, Robert Fulghum said,

So I asked.

“Dr. Papaderos, what is the meaning of life?”

The usual laughter followed and people stirred to go.

Papaderos held up his hand and stilled the room and looked at me for a long time, asking with his eyes if I was serious and seeing from my eyes that I was.

“I will answer your question.”

Taking his wallet out of his hip pocket, he fished into a leather billfold and brought out a very small round mirror, about the size of a quarter.

And what he said went like this:

“When I was a small child, during the war, we were very poor and we lived in a remote village. One day, on the road, I found the broken pieces of a mirror. A German motorcycle had been wrecked in that place.

“I tried to find all the pieces and put them together, but it was not possible, so I kept only the largest piece. This one. And by scratching it on a stone I made it round. I began to play with it as a toy and became fascinated by the fact that I could reflect light into dark places where the sun would never shine – in deep holes and crevices and dark closets. It became a game for me to get light into the most inaccessible places I could find.

“I kept the little mirror, and as I went about my growing up, I would take it out in idle moments and continue the challenge of the game. As I became a man, I grew to understand that this was not just a child’s game but a metaphor for what I might do with my life. I came to understand that I am not the light or the source of light. But light – truth, understanding, knowledge – is there, and it will only shine in many dark places if I reflect it.

“I am a fragment of a mirror whose whole design and shape I do not know. Nevertheless, with what I have I can reflect light into the dark places of this world – into the black places in the hearts of men – and change some things in some people. Perhaps others may see and do likewise. This is what I am about. This is the meaning of my life.”

And then he took his small mirror, and holding it carefully, caught the bright rays of daylight streaming through the window and reflected them onto my face and onto my hands folded on the desk

Ok. So many of you are probably wondering why I am putting a picture of a magpie on my blog. Well, this morning was kind of a slow/difficult/blah morning and so I was needing a little pick-me-up. Well as I was walking on my way to my building, I met the hoppiest magpie of my life. He wasn't just walking, or strutting, or bouncing, but he was hopping like there was no tomorrow. It was abnormally out of control. It made me smile SO much and even now I can't think of it without smiling! It was just what I needed to brighten my day. I think Heavenly Father definately knows my sense of humor and the silly things that will make my smile. Thank heavens for the hoppy magpie to brighten my day. :) And for those of you who are anxiously waiting more posts on my blog, I will be posting the Yellowcard concert and San Francisco pictures when I get some time.

My life recently

So this is me these days. I seriously can barely wait for Spring Break. I had a HUGE Neuroanatomy lab midterm last week, a Psychosocial and Groups midterm this week, and also this week a Neuroanatomy lab and lecture quiz. And to top it all off, i have another Neuroanatomy lecture quiz next week. So those are just the tests... There have also been some pretty big papers, assignments, and projects that have been due during this time too. So that is exactly why I chose to post this picture. I am trying to have a better attitude about all this school work, but it's a work in progress. Spring break is from march 17-21. My roommate Steve is having an interview for med school in San Francisco and asked if I wanted to join him. Along the way, we were able to pick up Mike and Ben and the 4 of us are leaving that Thursday morning and coming back Saturday night. I am SO STINKING EXCITED for it. I need a break and I need one BAD. It's going to be good company, hopefully good weather, and fun. And we also are going to eat at one of my favorite restaurants that they had in Japan, Yoshinoyas. I guarantee that there will be a post about the trip with pictures. Although life is stressful, it is so good and I am so blessed.

Never 2-B-4 Gotten

Here is the sample video for my new business for

weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, and other

occasions. I am thankful that Jenna and Brad

allowed me to use their engagement pictures

for a sample. If you are interested in having a

slideshow done, please let me know.

This is a picture at the Conference Center after President Hinckley's funeral. It was really neat to be there live. It was an experience that I will never forget. There was not a dry eye in the whole Conference Center during the final song. It was also very touching to see people wave their white handkerchiefs as they were taking his casket out. Although it was sad to know that we'd never see President Hinckley in the conference center again, it was hard to not be so happy that him and Marjoree are together now.

In Memory of President Hinckley

I love this picture! It was sad to hear the news last night that President Hinckley passed on, but when I see this picture it makes me happy for him to be able to see his wife again. I bet that was a neat reunion for them to see each other again. I will always remember President Hinckley since he was the prophet as I was growing up. He was the one whose signature was on my mission call. I'm thankful for my beliefs and my knowledge that there is life after we die. President Hinckley will definately be missed though. I have a movie that I'm trying to upload. It's very touching. Check back later to see if I can get it to work.

Delta Frat Date Night

Here is the movie we made at our Delta Frat Date Night.

You might wanna pause the song at the bottom of the blog before you watch this.

The things in life that make you happy....

As many of you know, I love tennis. I actually really really enjoy watching the 4 major tennis tournaments. Unlucky for my studies, the Australian Open has been recently and I have enjoyed watching some of the matches. A major upset that happened that made me happy was Novak Djokovic upset Roger Federer in the semi-finals to make it to the championshiop. Federer has dominated men's tennis the past couple of years so I'm excited to see some new faces step up and compete for the #1 ranking. He ended up winning the Australian Open.