Sew Purple

Mel

2012-01-24T19:11:00.000-08:00

Mel is arguably the most thoughtful and kind-hearted friend I have. I'm lucky to consider her one of my best friends since moving out here to Boston.

She knew I was having "one of those weeks", so texted to see if she could come over...

and she didn't come empty handed.

How do you know when your 'friend' is really really honest to goodness truly personally your friend???

When they don't even have to ask what your favorite 'concoction' at Coldstone is.......and they show up with it at your door.

Spot on Mel

~You're the Best~

Clinic

2011-12-16T13:08:00.000-08:00

Just for a glimpse into my days @ MGH

.......................................

Even though my classmates and I all have a full load of classes, we all find ourselves spending about 80% of our time with "clinic"...just everything clinic. We each have two clients that we see twice a week. This involves weekly lesson plans, progress notes for data, parent handouts, and...the 'prep work'. Can't tell you how many hours I've spent with scissors, crayons, and tape in my hands thinking, "waaaiitt, don't I have like a paper due or something I should be working on? but instead I'm cutting out caterpillars?...hm" (but it's so fun!)

With the little ones (like 4 and under), having a theme to center each session around helps to focus the objectives and often produces better results.

This week? The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

Basically, this theme is allowing me to target:

-attending to a storybook

-showing proper handling of a book

(independent page turning, etc)

-contrasts Big vs Little

-spacial concept 'through'

-entity+location (caterpillar is ON...)

~ Happy Times ~

~Thanksgiving~

2011-11-29T19:14:00.001-08:00

This was a special and unique Thanksgiving for me, as it was my first holiday away from home. Honestly, it was such a blessing because I had such a wonderful time with friends. Plenty of us are far away from home, working and doing school, and going home just isn't feasible. So a small group of 8 gathered together and lived the single's dream.

~The Beautiful Finished product~

...let's see how we got there.

Every group needs at least one man...for the carving of course.

Calvin very much claimed an entire leg, and I wasn't about to get in between that. Later in the evening (I forgot to take a photo...sad) he brought the wish bone to me and we pulled it apart together...I got the bigger half! He must have overheard me mention how I used to pull the wishbone apart with my cousin Karin when we were little, and he went off to find and clean the bone and bring it to me. Love~

T.H.E rolls

So Mel (the master chef behind this all) asked me if there was something that just 'made' thanksgiving for me that we should make. I said, "My Aunt Ellen's orange rolls!" So, thanksgiving day, upon arriving early to help prep, Mel informs me that they did in fact make my orange rolls...and then proceeded to eat them all already! Ha! Naturally, I made the next batch. I've never made rolls before, so I am very proud of these.

*beautiful*

Oh, so while I'm takin a break on the sofa, my friend Nishan sees me and apparently decides it's time me and him break what he thinks is my comfort level 'touch barrier' of our friendship by pretty much enveloping me in his hug. Hmm. yeah he stayed like this for a while, till I convinced him I felt much closer to him and we were definitely better friends because of this 'experience.'

Boys

OOOhhh the Pies

{Another "first" for me}

Late the night before all the festivities, I went to Mel's place to help her make the pies. She's just amazing at all this stuff. Nothing is store bought when it comes to food. It's all from scratch, all the time, every time.

{sorry blurry. Pecan Pie}

We laughed cus it came out looking like one giant cookie, but it tasted sooo yummy.

Lemon *meringue*

Allison (or Miss Mitton for me) with the whipping cream.

And, she made these cute little turkey place settings. Apparently a family tradition that 'made' thanksgiving for her. Her mama even sent her one in the mail for all the roommates. Sweet.

Their home is so cute.

I'm so lucky to live really close to them. It was not really planned when we all moved out of the Nottinghill house to live so close to each other, but it has worked out so great. It's my second home here.

Used mason jars for cups.

And, as I think is fitting for young single adults on their own for thanksgiving, we sat on the sofas and floor for the 'feast'. We tried to get tables from the church, but apparently weren't the only ones with that idea. I thought it was perfectly appropriate for our age group!

Me, Miss Mitton & Mel

We may not have had our moms and family, but we are all so blessed with friends that feel just as close and good as any family :)

The Boston Haps

2011-11-20T15:26:00.000-08:00

Here's the haps everyone...

sorry not tons of photos, just words.

Things I've recently done in this beautiful Boston life of mine:

Porter Square

The intersection I walk across every morning to catch the 'T' to school

(just for a visual)

1. Boston Harbor Cruise

---Part of Education conference. Church rented a huge yacht and there was dancing and chocolate fondu fountains, 25 diff types of cheese and crackers, lights, friends, and a beautiful view of this new city I like to call home.

2. Apple Picking

---hands down something I have enjoyed doing most while out here. It was crisp and cold with little icicles on the ground, overcast and just gorgeous. This place was a farm/orchard where you "buy" a bag and fill it with as many apples as you want, and you can eat as many as you want to while roaming the orchards. It was quiet, and so rejuvenating to be out away from everything. Just gorgeous. And of course I didn't think ahead to charge my battery so my camera died after these photos. So sad, cus it was a gorgeous day for photos. I'll go again.

Theeeennnnn of course the boys started chucking the apples at each other...which started a game...which started a competition...which started all the laughing...it was like being back home with my brothers and boy cousins. Why are boys so much fun and so much funnier in what they think to say? I think my friend nailed it on the head when she said,

"It's like they just see things simpler. Apple = ball = throw ball = fun!"

3. Boston Symphony

---yes...this was a date and a wonderful one! Yummy fancy Italian dinner, beautiful Symphony hall and music, and mr. handsome to experience it all with. I'll just leave it at that~

4. Halloween Costume Party FHE

---leave it to the ward to plan an activity for every occasion. This was a fun night of costumes and friends. I went decked out one night at my old Nottinghill house. (I was Indian...I have lots of Indian friends so the costume was quick. Don't judge that I never put any thought into it until the night before.)

so for this FHE I kept it simple with just a mask.

5. Breaking Dawn

---yeah I broke down and saw the most recent Twilight craze movie with friends. You just had to once you've see the first three. We actually stood in line and went at like 11 pm. Whatever. It had to be done...and I liked it :)

6. Soup Party

---My new friend Lauren has been in many of these photos with me cus she is the party queen. Always something happening in that girls plans so she's the one to know! She hosted a Soup Party at her parents home about 30 min away from the city and it was just a cozy night to be in a home with pumpkin and thanksgiving decorations, friends, lots of pots of soup, and games. Fun fall idea.

7. Christopher's

---Finally went out to eat at this restaurant that is literally like 50 yds away from my house. I walk past it at least two times a day. It was time to try it.

8. CLINIC

---I have two little clients and we are in full swing of therapy. Crazy to actually be 'practicing' what I'm learning everyday at school. The families are fully aware that they are at a "teaching facility/clinic" but they have been so kind and supportive in expressing their appreciation and satisfaction with how therapy has been handled with their kids. Always nice to hear when you're freaking out as a new-b at anything!

So much to do all the time in this City!

The Bog Blog

2011-10-09T15:53:00.000-07:00

So you know that Ocean Spray commercial where those guys are standing in a pool of cranberries?! Well, I learned that that "pool" is called a Bog and it's how they harvest the little guys.

Steffanie, Lauren, Jennie, Katherine, Aubrey and I

went to the Cranberry Bog Festival.

Happens once a year for only one weekend.

You get to walk on a little wooden overpass they build to see a close view of the process. Men wade in the water, throw the berries on the conveyer belt where they are washed then spill over into the truck.

Just beautiful colors

(I got a kick out of this man...just hangin' out in ma overalls waitin, ta hall away the berries!)

On the other side, in a separate field, you can see how the berry bushes look before they are harvested. There's a machine that floats on the water (very small in the background) that goes around sort of ruffling the bushes so the berries come loose and float in the water. (The good ones float, the bad ones sink). I think Monet' could have worked wonders with a paint brush here too, just like with his lily pads in the ponds.

They had them all packaged up and I'm assuming in these boxes? I don't know, they were just pretty so I took photos!

It was a beautiful fall day activity...

...even if the age bracket was slightly skewed to either a very young population (had little booths for kids, hence the strollers) or a very old one.

So, next time you drink cranberry juice....

picture this!

At Water's Edge

2011-09-18T15:07:00.000-07:00

I spent this weekend in New Hampshire

for a tri-ward campout.

Very very fun and nice, just to be outside and get to meet and make many new friends.

This morning we held our church meeting in the amphitheater area over looking this beautiful water. As the testimonies were being shared, I found myself having a "conversational dialog" in my head. A small part of me loves poetry and occasionally I find myself writing some of my thoughts down in that form.

I thought I would share what I wrote, because it means something to me, and perhaps it will mean something to somebody else as well :)

At Water's Edge

Dear Savior I’m peaceful, it’s quiet and still.

I’m trying to listen, to learn of thy will.

My child I am calm as you watch me this day

You rest in my palm and there you may stay.

My child I am steady, constant I flow

With patience please watch me, my ways you will know.

Dear Savior I’m watching, please help make it clear

The reason for living and why I am here.

My child I am ready, come unto me

Will you watch, will you listen, will you look, will you see?

My child I see in you an increase much more

I’ll show you the purpose, which you were made for.

At times I’m alone here, dear Savior please stay

When all I can do is to kneel and to pray.

My child I am with you, my presence remains

Doubt not, fear not, my comfort sustains.

My child do you feel me at the waters edge?

Do you trust me to keep you safe far from the ledge?

Dear Savior I trust you, but how do you know

Of the cares and concerns of one child below?

For sometimes I falter and my sandals grow wet

As I walk on the water, nearer thee to get.

My child I am wide, I encompass all

Let my arms protect you when you feel far too small.

My child I’m all knowing with stars in my hands.

The moons and my worlds still obey my commands.

I rule ‘or through heaven, the cosmos attend, but

My child from my throne did I once descend

And now with all glory for my Father above

My child do I raise you through matchless love.

For time without measure and space with no end

My child you’re my glory, my treasure, my friend.

No force could diminish, nor power could break

My child from my watchcare, not one I’ll forsake.

So dear child be calm as you watch me this day

And know that I love thee, and am not far away.

Be patient and steady so one day you’ll see

Just how to return and live always with me.

Something to me

2011-09-15T18:33:00.000-07:00

...because it means something to me~

When I was home last, I told daddy about something I've always always wanted to do. I love my home. I love Turlock. And I wanted to photograph it.

I was so blessed to grow up surrounded by beautiful things, and I don't feel like I've ever taken it for granted. I have always loved looking at the fields of corn, vineyards of grapes, orchards of nuts and fruits, or rows and rows of whatever else we grow, not to mention all the cows!

But there are certain places I'll never ever get tired of seeing; places that mean "home" to me. Places that even now, thousands of miles away as a desktop picture, can make me calm just looking at it because of the memories and emotions of home embedded in them for me.

How many hundreds of thousands of times have I driven down Taylor and crossed over this canal...

...or taken puppers on a walk and unlatched the gate overgrown with ivy?

How many years has this been my view walking out my front door to go watch the boys play catch at the park, run over to the Falke's for a second, or meet mama as she comes in with groceries or daddy from work at lunch time?

How many seasons of harvest have I watched; measuring the what-seemed-like-daily growth of the corn until one morning you all of the sudden realize, "hey! they cut the corn down today!" (always pretending that some of it ends up at Raley's to buy, even though you really knew it was "for the cows")

And how many times will it take turning down this road...

for my heart to stop aching with that wonderful happy ache that you only get when you turn down the familiar road to home....

for me not to feel like I can suddenly breath deeply and properly again knowing that home is just down the road...

for my eyes to stop soaking up every bit of the land, like if I don't trap it all in my memory I may one day forget how the warm sun looks on the open fields...

Hopefully another hundred thousand times or more.

Because this is my home,

this is where my heart truly forever will be,

because it means something to me~

Stokes Manse

2011-08-10T16:28:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I went to Stokes Manse.

(Marilyn Stokes has a little sign of that out front of her home)

We had basil, tomato and mozzarella sandwiches on homemade wheat bread. Then I took a tour of the beautiful old and renovated house. We took a walk around the grounds then picked raspberries and blueberries out on their land!!! Marilyn has this 'system' where she hangs the basket around her neck, puts a glove on one hand to push back the thorny bushes then has the other hand free to pick the little berries.

SO FUN

Then she taught me the proper way to freeze them.

I have been obsessed with fruit parfaits and the berries make them so special cus I actually picked them myself! Straight from nature

~~~Thank you Stokes Manse~~~

A little bit-o-everything

2011-07-17T17:55:00.000-07:00

My roommate Melanie is amazing with cooking/baking/crafts, etc and she made this 'flag cake'. The first cut into it was pretty exciting, crossing out fingers hoping it worked!

We had a BBQ on our patio for friends, sort of pot luck style.

Always something going on at the wonderful house of our.

Me, Jenny and Katie

Later that night about 20 ward members all rented canoes and rowed ourselves down the Charles to watch the fireworks. Front-row-seats! So fun to have the Boston Pops playing in the background, see the show reflecting off the water and buildings and have absolutely nobody in front of you and no crowds. Great 4th of July.

Allyson, Katie, Reed & Allison

Me, Miss Mitton (more fun than just Allison) and Melanie

~Welcome to the world Brock~

My friend Sarah who went to Africa same time as me just had her first baby.

Congrats Srizz

An end of an Era

Harry Potter 7 pt. 2

SOOOO crazy it's all over. How many times have I read those books, watched those movies while baking cookies or listened to the books on tape while quilting and sewing??? I remember clearly living in my room for hours at a time sewing-away because I had my Harry Potter for entertainment. And then when the 7th book came out and daddy finally finished listening to it in his car(!), we sat in the car in front of the house going over and over the finish trying (and failing) to figure all the twists and turns out. It was such a part of childhood for my generation :)

Christy and Anthony (my newly married childhood friend)

flew into MA a few days ago to spend a few weeks with Christy's mom,

Marilyn Stokes. Got to spend Saturday afternoon with them.

A little slice of 'home.'

(and we toured a public library which was gorgeous)

Just a smattering little catch up post.

Fame

2011-06-26T14:25:00.000-07:00

My first Red Sox game.

Not to fear...

I am forever faithful to my SF GIANTS!

My attempt at a Larynx.

We had to make it in anatomy class and it took forever!

I have new found sympathy for all the members of the family whoever had to mold a tooth out of wax for dental or ortho school.

*Taylor Swift*

Jenny, Danielle, Lauren & I

We were very close.

We got a little crazy.

{Average age of the girls? Between 8 and 17. We even had a little 'first-timer' in front of us who I'd put around age 10}

About an hour in, it started to rain. Then it all unhinged. It was as if me and the other 52,000 "tweens" looked at each other and said, "Well girls? Shall we do this? Should we completely embrace this and just love it?!?! Y.E.S."

Motherese

2011-06-21T13:48:00.000-07:00

Motherese

Mothers provide a framework wherein children learn language, practice speech, and experiment with communication. Mothers express a willingness and desire to create an environment uniquely attuned to their child's needs to learn and grow.

The importance of mothers in language development has been the primary focus of my Language Acquisition class. I can remember clearly as a kid sitting on the kitchen counter as mama cooked dinner and talking with her. She definitely raised a kid who loves languages and talking (just ask her how very unable I was to summarize a book in a paragraph. My versions were more like mini novels themselves).

Though I'm no longer at a "church" school, the principles of the gospel and the Family Proclamation have followed me here to my education in Boston. Motherhood and the nurturing instincts are ever present in the materials I'm reading and I just can't help but smiling as I see the truths of the divine role of women in families shining through.

I, just like babies, have always preferred the sound of my mothers voice over any other voice in the world.

Inspiration

2011-06-16T18:15:00.001-07:00

My brain is bigger.

I swear it.

If you measured it today compared to what it was two weeks ago...it would HAVE to have increased in size.

All thanks to the AMAZING education of

Mass General Hospital Institute.

Today for anatomy class we met off campus at

Mass General's Center for Laryngeal Surgery

and Voice Rehabilitation.

They have one of the, if not THE, largest

facilities in the world devoted to vocal rehabilitation

and recovery, etc.

Today we used spirometry to trace, calculate, analyze our own

Inspiration & Expiration.

{I love that breathing in is called "Inspiration"}

I figured it was a good sign that I was really excited to go to school today because I love what I'm learning. Very hands-on.

During class my teacher just casually drops,

"Yeah, I used to have Steve Tyler's test, but I think somebody stole that." Well, I wasn't just ganna casually accept that he said that and stay quiet (like everybody else seemed content to do!). So...I did what I always do...I asked a question!

"Wait, so when you say Steve Tyler...you mean the Steve Tyler?! What was he doing here?!" The teacher then had fun telling us funny things Steve does when he 'comes and visits' because apparently he's a huge supporter of their facility. They help him out a lot since, as you can imagine, Steve's vocal chords aren't exactly in the best condition.

Turns out quite a few celebrities go there. They had pictures of Julie Andrews, Cher, lead singer in 'The Who', etc up on the wall.

I love learning from these professionals who work in such renowned facilities.

~That has been truly inspiring~

Nottinghill News

2011-06-12T14:10:00.000-07:00

There are a million and one things to do

here in Boston.

I had a fun first week before school started

to play and see some of the sites.

(...and a very full week of reading and studying

once school actually started)

Walden Pond

"A lake is the landscape's most beautiful

and expressive feature.

It is Earth's eye;

looking into which the beholder measures

the depth of his own nature."

-Henry David Thoreau

Louisa May Alcott's House

The "Beach"

The "beach" was passable for a beach when I consider I'm no longer in California so I need to lower my expectations. (Please note I have on a California sweatshirt. Just keepin' the dream alive baby.)

It was quite unique, as I guess the beach was directly in line with the landing strip for the airport, so we saw about 100 of these in the 2 hrs we were there.

Then, homemade pizzas on the grill when we got home :)

My first/second time around.

Mama and I missed this exhibit by like 3 days

when we were out here a few months ago.

So I took as many photos as I could so you, mama, could feel like you kinda got to see it!

Me, Alyson (my floor),

and Allison (floor below me).

This boat full of glass was inspired by Chihuly's adventures with a different project. I guess at one time he wanted to see how water would affect the look of the glass if he threw his pieces into a river. After standing on a bridge and throwing his pieces into the river (and appreciating the new perspective), he hired some local young boys, who were hanging around watching him, to dive into the water and retrieve all this glass.

Seeing all his pieces haphazardly piled on the boat gliding across the water inspired this piece. The glass is featured in a wooden boat which is placed upon a shiny black floor to act as 'reflecting water'.

Chihuly Boston

Modeled after Native American woven baskets

(hence the Indian tapestries in this room)

There was an empty room where the art was displayed above you with a clear ceiling and hundreds of glass pieces piled on top of each other.

He had 6 hanging fixtures (the largest number to ever have been on display in one exhibit)

Chihuly Boston

Moss on a log.

I read he was inspired to do this piece after moving into a work space where the ceilings were very high, so he wanted something to fill the space.

I live in an adorable house on Nottinghill Rd.

with great girls, and I'm very thankful.

~~~Kitchen Quote~~~

"If you're not tired, sore, or hungry

at the end of the day,

you're not living hard enough."

Apparently I AM LIVING HARD ENOUGH

cus I am 100% all three of these

after the full week of site seeing

and then this first week of school.

The Best Days

2011-06-01T13:13:00.000-07:00

I'm starting Graduate School in Boston this summer so daddy and I drove my car all the way from Utah to Massachusetts. {And when I say daddy and I drove, I mean I drove a grand total of maybe 5 hours and he drove the rest!}

This map became our third traveling companion as we tracked our (slow but fun) progress across the country. We flew from California to Utah on Friday and took off Saturday morning when my car hit exactly 7,000 miles. Perfect for tracking just how far we drove.

Grandma Hyer (who was in Salt Lake at the time) made sure we were totally stocked with goodies. Classic grandma, there was more food than we could have eaten and it was all good.

So, early Saturday we took off for day #2 of the adventure. We had a trunk and backseat totally jam packed with all my life's belongings, a box of goodies and a cooler of drinks, a map, and above all...absolutely NO idea just how long and awesome this trip was going to be!

Wyoming

State #3

(Ca and Ut counting as 1&2)

Wyoming was very very flat. We got excited when we saw these rocks, just for the change in scenery. You know you're in trouble when seeing rocks is cool.

Nebraska

State #4

Lots and lots of windmills and clouds.

We loved the clouds the whole trip long.

Iowa

State #5

{The birthplace of moi and alma mater for daddy}

Dad's orthodontic residency was here.

I was born here.

We watched the storm roll in. The same

system that devastated Joplin, Mo.

Who knew?

And then...

Illinois

State #6

{Dad and I couldn't stop saying "The Land of Lincoln" like the guy

from the movie That Thing You Do}

As we rolled into Chicago

daddy put music by the group Chicago on. He said, "Who's this?", and then had to spell all the way to C.H.I...before I got it. "Oh! Chicago! I get it".

It was the second to last day of Oprah taping in Harpo Studios.

Really fun.

They open up the windows of this Bar and Grill,

so it was like eating half inside and half out.

Daddy taught me why the rain makes rainbows.

Indiana

State #7

Indiana struggled and didn't welcome us with a sign.

So we improvised.

Ohio

State #8

Two places @ once!

No retouching. The clouds were glowing.

Groves and groves of trees.

Pennsylvania

State #9

It says, "Buckle up next million miles" Ha!

New York

State #10

Recognize this? Watch the opening of The Office.

Connecticut

State #11

This was pretty much a drive-by state. We're lucky we even saw the sign.

Massachusetts

State #12

My house!

We're currently in the middle of a torrential downpour/tornado warning...exactly as I'm typing this. So we ran around shutting all the windows (in case you didn't notice, there are quite a few) and sat on the back of the couch to watch the lightning.

Awesome.

If you look close, (or click on the photo to enlarge it)

I'm in the top story window, left side.

That's my room!

Under the green monster.

We love fish so we had to hit this restaurant.

Oldest in America. On the freedom trail.

We shared our first boston cream pie.

I thought it was fitting that my first boston cream pie I've ever had was eaten in Boston.

Plymouth

Cape Cod

You guessed it...we ate cod fish & chips

I love my daddy-o.

How many girls get to spend 10 days with just their daddy?

~~~~~

The song below has been my theme song these past few days.

Makes me think of my parents.

Sometimes I still feel like a little kid and remember things from my childhood like it was yesterday: running around before dinner with Amanda Adams playing Lion King in the backyard, getting off the bus at the park, riding my purple bike and crashing the first time I ever tried to show grandma and grandpa, folding laundry on the bed while mama irons, taking bubble baths in the jacuzzi and turning it on when the water was too low so the bubbles went flying, and endless endless running of errands.

I'm trying to be fearless as I start this whole big chapter of life.

~But sometimes I just want to be little again~

Fabulous 50

2011-05-18T09:28:00.000-07:00

Mama, Daddy and I went to my grandparents' beach home in Cambria.

Ty boy was dirt biking for the weekend with cousins so this last trip was a special time with just me and my parents. We celebrated:

Mama's 50th b-day

Me and daddy's 50 mile bike ride

{We joked that, in honor of her, we rode a mile for every year of her life.}

Of course we had to drop by for a visit before we left and before gma and gpa went on a long cruise. Mama has inherited her mothers' love for flowers.

Above: Me and grandma in her rose garden. We made sure to bring some home because if WE didn't enjoy them before we all left on our trips, then nobody would.

Below: me and daddy would find ourselves all of the sudden walking alone on the ranch, only to look back and see mama a few yards back, having veered off the path and busily photographing poppies all over the bluff.

Rock towers and tide pools

Every trip deserves a visit to The Sea Chest.

We used mama's b-day as an excuse to get dessert :)

We were all resting on the couch just looking out at the ocean when I swore I saw a whale spout. So we all jumped up, grabbed the binoculars and ran (literally) out to a point on the ranch to where we thought we could get the best view. You could totally see them without the binoculars they were so close, but it's cool to see all the up close detail too. Saw tons!

THE 50 MILER!

We planned for this ride for like 4 months.

The Wildflower Ride in San Luis Obispo

You can't tell, but there were about 2,000 fellow cyclists on this ride. Super popular and through a really nice open beautiful part of the valley. In many areas there were stretches of just vineyard after vineyard.

It was fun to roll into the pit stops, grab some power food like bananas and pretzels then get back on the bike and ride on!

Lots of 20 and 30 mile rides to get in shape=

lots of quiet hours in the country, just me and daddy-o.

~Beautiful rolling hills of San Luis, California~

Just one more thing to add to the wonderful

life long list of memories made in Cambria.

D.C.

2011-05-04T12:05:00.000-07:00

Obviously mama and I went to D.C. & Boston in the same trip, it's just taken me a while to make separate posts cus they were very full and unique experiences in their own right.

George Washington University,

the first of many schools on our week-long trip to visit!

Behind me would have been "my" building.

They presented a very nice and comfortable open house and everyone we met was very kind.

~I was just way more excited and impressed with Boston~

The Smithsonian

We attempted to see as much as we could in just 4 short hours.

Trust me, you get lost in those museums. There is SO MUCH stuff to see and read and learn. Really an amazing public facility. It's a must-do-again-when-I-have-my-own-kids attraction.

We hit the Air & Space museum as well as the American History museum. Above is the historic 'Spirit of St. Louis' plane flown by Charles Lindbergh.

Below is the first plane to ever successfully be "in flight", made by the Wright brothers. A-mazing that it was right there! In a world where anything can be digitalized, virtualized, recreated, forged, mimicked, waxed, etc. it was crazy to be in these museums with the actual honest-to-goodness real things of so many items from history.

This was a big highlight for mama because years ago she was able to visit Kitty Hawk and has wanted to see the Wright brothers' famous plane ever since.

And I was super excited about seeing Lincoln's hat because I'm reading a book on him right now, Lincoln's Melancholy, and his memorial was my favorite of all we visited. I just have some "no real reason why" interest in him as a person.

Can't really see the excitement in my face because I was really hungry and tired and was just a little bit cranky. haha oops. Happens~

That's the actual suit he got painted in who knows how many times.

Seeing as how we had just visited GWU...seemed appropriate.

Julia Child's Kitchen

I'm pretty obsessed with food and cooking so this was for sure a highlight.

Enter..... CuPcaKes

So there's this show on TLC about a cupcake shop in Georgetown.

Naturally, we felt it was our duty as D.C. visitors and just chocolate loving women in general to grace this lovely little shop with our presence.

The daily line out the door speaks for itself. They give you a little menu with all the options for that day and mama and I took, I don't know, maybe about 30 seconds to zero in on the two most chocolate decadent choices offered. Pretty sure one of them was called "chocolate cubed" as in chocolate to the third degree.

Yup

The country seems to be in an all out craze with cupcakes as of late. Throughout our trip we continued to 'sample' these little treats wherever we found a shop, but some of them unfortunately went straight to the trash after only a bite. Not even close to D.C. cupcakes.

So if you're ever there, try them.

{We even bumped into the sister missionaries there! If that's not classic, I don't know what is}

~The CapiTAl and all the sites~

All these Elders were leaving the next day.

We just happened to be there the two weeks of the year the Cherry Blossoms are in bloom.

*Night* Tour

(My camera was wiggin' out in the photo above.)

Loved loved loved the Lincoln Memorial.

So stoic, grand, and clean. Mama and I felt reverence there.

WW2 memorial

It was a fabulous trip. All good and fun things to see all in

one little area.

Placed

2011-04-17T12:01:00.000-07:00

It's official...I've chosen a grad school.

Now I'm freaking out that it's really happening!

Massachusetts General Hospital

Institute of Health Professions

*an academic affiliate of

Massachusetts General Hospital*

Ranking third on the U.S. News and World Report's

Honor Roll for best hospital and hospital affiliate's

for 2010-2011...it's an impressive facility.

For the next two years I'll be walking through these doors towards my future. Well, maybe more like walking towards the clinic and classrooms, but it's finally the first step towards becoming "what I want to be when I grow up."

I mean please...doesn't this just scream, "When I grow up I want to be a speech pathologist?!"

(Some people might think I was a little more on point with the BS in Psychology since this outfit is a little psychotic haha.)

But this just felt like home, and I'm so happy.

The institute is located right in Boston's Old Navy Yard of Charlestown and all the water and seagulls just made it feel like San Francisco...so familiar.

(Emerson College)

Mama and I kept plenty busy visiting other schools too, like George Washington University in D.C., Emerson College in Boston, and Boston University.

(Boston University)

While we were out there, I got accepted to Columbia University, too. I tried to 'joke-call' daddy and tell him we were just ganna add another week to our trip and go to New York too. Ironically it was April fools day so he didn't believe me. Didn't matter...after being in Boston, I didn't even want to go look anywhere else. It's a beautiful city.

Mama and I were actually quite impressed with how our timeline of "To-Do's" and "Want-To-Do's" blended so perfectly. We were very efficient and busy with the important open houses, housing hunts, and decision making.

But hello! It's Boston! You can't come all that way and not play.

(Mike's Pastry is famous for their Cannoli's)

Way too many choices. And there were people literally pushing against us from behind vying for a position to see all the pastries in the case. Super busy. Mama and I were like, "Too much pressure! Let's just pick one and get out of here." haha. And like the words in "The Sound of Music," they have string coming down from the ceiling they use to tie up the packages of treats.

Brown paper packages

tied up in strings...

The simple joys of room service.

Night life. Woo hoo!

Brumsy and Abbala

Prom 2011

Missed it while we were gone, so they kept us posted with photos.

(Harvard Yard)

They have a gorgeous library. The ladder was so 'Beauty and the Beast'.

Hello Michael Kors.

As soon as we saw this we knew I was ganna be just fine here. This store owns half of all the Singer sewing machines ever made and they display them in the window (in each of their establishments around the world) as an enticement to get people to come it. Let's just say it worked for me.

Who wouldn't fall in love with a place where you can find Vera Wang on one street (ahem...by appointment only as we were so informed when we tried to go look), hundreds of sewing machines on the next, then wrap it all up by eating lunch IN a window. Yes, we are sitting in the window booth where they put displays. Quaint~

(Boston Museum of Fine Art)

Beautiful glass work and impressionist paintings. When I asked if I could get a student discount, they asked if I was in high school. Awesome.

All glass. So cool.

This has been a magnet on our fridge forever, so mama and I just love this one.

There is something so cool to me about actually 'seeing' the signature of the artist. So real. Monet actually touched that canvas; he stood as close to it as I was!

Then, lunch with Michelle, my cousin who lives there. Her husband is graduating from Harvard this year and they are moving away. Such bummer timing.

Her little babe.

So, I may not have known since I was this little guy's age just what I wanted to be when I grew up. But I can't deny that I have truly been led to finding and deciding on studying speech pathology. I wanted, and actually quite expected, to walk onto the the different school campuses mama and I were going to visit and almost get an instant 'read' or feel for the place; like a strong "yes" or "no" that would tell me which one I should choose.

That didn't happen.

What did happen was something much more thought out and I'm sure better for me and my peace of mind. I really had to 'study it out for myself' and look over the small but potentially important differences between the programs of the various schools. It was scary for me to not have this overwhelming "yes!" of an answer. But I do have an answer, and I do feel peace.

The morning after mama and I visited the schools was Sunday; General Conference morning. I turned on some quiet music to at least let a tone of calm in, since unfortunately we weren't sure how much of conference we could catch with our other obligations of the trip for that day. The words of one of the songs struck me as I sat looking out our window view of the city in the morning. It was mercifully quite perfect for reassuring me that my leaning towards MGH was a good and correct decision; giving me not an overwhelming loud answer, but a peaceful calm.

With life up in the air

my faith has learned to fly.

I know who's hand

is covering my eyes.

Wherever I land

will be hallowed ground to me.

I will know that He has placed me

where I should be.

I am still nervous about this big change in my life. Logically, I know it's all very exciting and new. It's the right time in my life to move in this direction and there is so much I'm going to learn and experience. Emotionally, I am still a little bit shy of everything. Sometimes the heart is a little bit behind the knowledge of the mind. The blessing is, emotionally I also know that my Father in Heaven knows my concerns and will continue to guide me to find the emotional wisdom, strength and excitement for this next step in life that I could never come by logically~

Boston...here I come!

Flower Patch

2011-03-12T15:24:00.000-08:00

Yeah...work is soooo hard when you have this face to look forward to.

MDT & Snails

2011-03-07T12:53:00.000-08:00

My good friend Hailey Holtzclaw {Hay Hay} was in the MDT Showcase a week or so ago.

Ky and I both went with friends to support.

Hay Hay had a closing number that brought down the house.

So glad I have friends who have talents for dancing I never got so I can enjoy the activity vicariously through them and all their shows.

(Sorry for the lighting. It's theater!)

~~~~~

This is a little tribute to my 'snails.'

For any who don't know......

6 of us girls formed a group in elementary school called the 'Snails.'

-Me

-Kylie Falke

-Hailey Holtzclaw

-Augusta Bates

-Ashley Falzone

-Amanda Adams

We were inseparable and still get together often to catch up whenever we're in Turlock. We had a notebook Ky still has somewhere, a chant, and ceramic pins Ashley or Augusta made. We were so legit.

We have all tried to bring little trinkets home for each of the 'snails' whenever we travel abroad. You might be surprised just how not-difficult that actually is! I've managed to find things in France, Peru, Africa and Utah and Ky brought us all home a little glass snail from Italy!

Going to watch Ky Ky in Dance Sport in 1 week!

Go snail #2 (???)

(We all had numbers. Forget which one she was but I was #4. Oh the things you do when you're little.)

Friday Night Fiasco

2011-03-04T23:36:00.001-08:00

So we had a minor emergency.

Call cut his finger and took a little visit to the E.R.

We were both laughing when I showed up (at my second hospital of the night because there was a minor 'miscommunication'). After saying to the receptionist, "Um, I think my little brother is here?" I heard a voice from behind a curtain, "Anne Marie?" followed by a laugh. It was all a very calm experience...let's be honest...this wasn't Call's first trip to the E.R. for cuts and bruises. This little love isn't exactly known for his finesse.

He was very pleased to report that he hadn't gotten one drop of blood on his nice shirt or suit.

Said as soon as he cut himself with the knife he just looked at it and thought, "Hospital".

Has to come back in a few days if numbness doesn't go away so they can check for nerve damage. Oh dudes...

{On the phone with dad}

Before running out the door I grabbed a Luna bar as 'emergency food'.

(Anyone who knows me knows I always always have at least some form of 'emergency food' in my purse). Good thing, cus Call started to feel light headed and was pretty stoked when he scored today's emergency food options, "Caramel Nut Brownie"...my personal favorite.

We both thought it was fun to watch someone besides our Uncles stitch him up. I said, "Huh, seems funny not to have this be Uncle Steve or Uncle Kevin doing this." and Call said, "That's just what I was thinking!!" Seems like no family reunion is complete without one of the uncles on either side stitching at least one person up. Thank heavens for Dr.'s in the fam.

And...my date tonight was SOOO nice to come and pick me up all the way from the Orem hospital so I could leave Call my car since Whitney had his car.

~~~Never a dull moment with this brother~~~

Friday-Night-Fiasco turned FuN!

Blood

2011-02-18T15:43:00.000-08:00

My little brother Call lives here in Provo. The other night he stopped over for a visit in the evening. I told my roommates after he left that I knew we were, no doubt, for a fact, true blood siblings because the first thing he asked me after walking in the apartment was,

"Hey, do you have any chocolate?"

Please...

do you even have to ask???

I stocked him up on my homemade cookies, then tried to balance out the damage by giving him wheat thins and carrots. The carrots were vehemently refused, but a sister's gotta try right?!

Made the Cut

2011-02-10T16:39:00.000-08:00

So you all remember my little Mish (Misha) right? He's one of my little babes I do ABA therapy with at work.

He was sick the last two days so didn't come to school. I missed his little voice so much. He is one of the few kids we consider more 'verbal' than the rest. Most of the time the little ones just cry, scream, or make random noises. {You could probably blindfold me and I could tell you who's cry/noise/squeal was who's very accurately. I used to wonder how moms, of all species really, are just wired to know their own child's cry. Now I have a better idea how!}

Anyway...

I missed him.

Today he was back.

My co-worker was doing a therapy session with him today and afterwards told me something I thought was so cute that Mish did. We are working with him to learn the names of his family members. We'll say, "Misha, what is your mom's name?" Or, "Who is your sister?"

Well...

I made the cut!

When asked today, "Misha, who is your sister?" Yes...you guessed it...

He said, "Ammawee!"

L.O.V.E.

Ma Babes

2011-01-14T20:57:00.001-08:00

As you all know, I work with little autistic preschoolers.

Working with these little ones, we've had some pretty great times together.

Here are a few events I've had with my babies.

I've been able to do things I've never done before. I feel like

one of the kids going to these new fun places :)

Fire Day!

I'm Ob...sessed with this photo.

He gives the best most intense looks.

He's giving the fireman one of his

"looks" in the first photo.

I think she looks like Yoda!!

Head poking out of a long 'robe'

I do ABA therapy with them to teach them

skills and behaviors. This little one passed

off one of her levels today, hence the

"star" hat.

*Snow Day*

Apparently, her mom carried around a bunch

of hats as they walked around the store

until this little one finally kept one on,

and that's the one they kept.

Personally, I think this hat was the winner

because it is purple.

Nap time before the big event.

Everyday, every...day, without fail, I get

a loud "Ammawee" welcome from this little boy.

He either yells it to me across the classroom

as I walk in and put my keys and purse in the closet,

or if I'm there before him he comes running

into the classroom towards me in the play area

in his "perpetually off balance, might trip over my own

shoes at any moment, haven't quite

figured out how to move" sort of way,

usually falling into my arms if he can manage

to aim his fall the right way :)

~Oh I love Misha~

(I call him my little spartan because of the hat)

Some of us really loved Santa Clause...

...and some of us really didn't,

even going so far as barricading ourselves

in the play tunnel.

Festival of Trees

This tiny boy may be the smallest but has

the most verbal skills.

I always get a

"Hi diidi" from him...his attempt at my long name.

Chronology of trying, trying, to get a photo

with both of us looking.

Psych!

Oh well. It was worth a try :)

At least the giant bubble kinda worked for us.

Pig tails.

Everyday.

~~~~~

These are ma babes...

until I have babes of my own :)

I either get emotional or laugh, sometimes both, every time I watch this because I just love him!!! Little Mishka

Yummies

2011-01-08T19:43:00.001-08:00

Summing up all the fun times over this holiday season with family, friends and food, "yummies" just seemed to the perfect word :)

BYU Basket ball game with Kates & co.

And then HOME

Foosball was pretty popular this holiday.

Ty dominated the game and infuriated his

two older brothers win after win after win!

I'd just sit on the leather chair and watch it all play out. I don't do stress and competition, so watching was fine with me~

Happy 16th Birthday brumsy.

Little Hayley on cookie day...

...and we're back to foosball.

~~~~~

Daddy-o was my buddy this holiday.

We spent so much time together: cooking, watching movies, running to the office for emergency patients (slyly grabbing a see's candy out of the staff room before we left!), watching food network shows, planning new meals to make then getting on line looking up cookware we wish we could buy, staying up together new years eve watching The Mentalist, reading church books by the portable space heater, etc.

My first 3-D movie, and it might be my last. It was so strange. My eyes were wigging out trying to focus. Some things might just be meant to stay in 2-D for me :)

This was our new years eve fancy dinner adventure.

Sage lemon chicken

Garlic roast potatoes

Petit pois (french for green peas)

We were pleasantly surprised at how good everything turned out, cus sometimes recipes look and seem great, then just aren't.

~~~~~

Swedish pancakes and Belgian waffles

courtesy of grandma & grandpa Rowan

The cousins trickled in and out all morning. Grandma cooked in that kitchen from 7 until 11:30 am!

It's such a unique feeling to just 'know' and love these people we call "Family". I'm so grateful every time we get together in groups to know I can be with every one of them for eternity.

"Bound each to each"

After taking this photo with grandpa I then got to show him how on the iphone 4 (which he actually has too!) you can hold the phone and take a picture of yourself by reversing the camera...

like this! He's so funny. Gets such a kick out of learning new things.

Then it was off to Aunt Ellen's to pick fresh oranges off their tree. Then over to Uncle Matt's for games in the back yard. Mama and I stood off to the side and watched and took photos. It seemed like a boys event, so we let our boys have their time :)

I looked over from where I stood taking photos to see mama standing in my exact same stance taking photos as well. Like mother like daughter! It's fun when your mama can be a style inspiration to you. She's so beautiful.

Genuinely my favorite photo of these two.

Then in the evenings we'd bring the beast in to sit on her little bed and get out of the cold. Honestly thought she was ganna scratch the door down some nights to get in. She just knows where the party's at and wants to come in too :)

~~~Thanks for being amazing HOME~~~

Hold the Phone...

2011-01-04T19:15:00.000-08:00

They've done it...

Provo has done the unthinkable...

They've rid my tuesdays of all that was special...

They've taken away dollar night at the local

Baskin Robbins!

It's almost painful to say it. After all...

Think of the memories:

Roommates say they know I'm out of town

when what is missing from the freezer?

Baskin Robbins

When family came into town, who was there?

Baskin Robbins

After a hard test, who was there?

Baskin Robbins

When roommates heart attacked my room,

what did one of the hearts say?

Baskin Robbins

When late night girl chats needed backup sustenance,

who was there?

Baskin Robbins

Congratulating me on a fantastic run, who was there?

Baskin Robbins

For family birthday cakes, who was there?

Baskin Robbins

Grandparents send me certificates every birthday

for 3 yrs. now to where?

Baskin Robbins

Introducing Tori to her first dollar scoop

EVER, from where?

Baskin Robbins

4 yrs and counting dollar nights w/Karin, where?

Baskin Robbins

Their only explanation?

New management

What the heck am I supposed to do on tuesdays now?!

10:44

2010-12-20T13:37:00.000-08:00

{It all started around the early hour of 10:44 pm}

Caramel...

Plus pumpkin...

Plus dance...

Plus friends...

And you're ganna get some crazy results.

I don't even know how many parties have begun past 10:44 in the evening.

Ingredients for the food may change,

but ingredients for fun pretty much stay the same:

FrIends

Nutz

2010-11-06T18:47:00.000-07:00

Saturdays are my shopping days.

I could seriously spend hours in Sunflower Market.

Today's creation was trail mix.

This is a happy concoction for me because it involves three essential ingredients...nuts, fruit and chocolate.

I used:

~walnuts

~Almonds

~banana chips

~Cranberries

~Ghiradelli dark chocolate chips

Hard to go wrong there.

Tomorrow's experiment???

Chocolate Walnut Meringue Cookies

{I'm teaching my first R.S. lesson tomorrow, so I'm hoping that bringing a treat for the girls will make the whole experience all just a little sweeter}

Remember

2010-11-01T22:42:00.001-07:00

For some reason, there are faces I remember

and people I think of quite often

for months and years after returning home

from my trips around the world.

This little man is one of those 'remembering' ones.

He is the one from my post, "Hands."

After having this man come to my mind so many

times, I asked my friend Raegan, with me here,

if she knew how to track down this photo.

~Thank you forever Raegan~

{An excerpt from "Hands" where I talk about meeting him. For complete post, click on

the highlighted "hands" above.}

Before we left I had the chance to work deep in the colony. Three others and I took our supplies and went to two people who couldn't make it out to us. The first little man. No words. We found him sitting on the cement floor with a cloth wrapped around him, no hands, swollen 'feet', and bones of knees and elbows practically visible beneath the paper thin leather skin of his failing body. Miserable. Just miserable living conditions. I just wonder who he used to be and what it has been like to see his body, his life, and his dignity as a human being just slowly crumble away from him. Sitting there. Just sitting there on a cement floor, in the depths of a maze like community as the flies come and feed on his sores. He doesn't even move. I don't know what to make of some of the trials people of this world are made to

suffer through in this life.

Hat-trick

2010-10-31T20:26:00.000-07:00

In soccer, a hat-trick is when you make three goals in one game.

I'm not Ty...so...this wasn't exactly what I did.

However,

I did run my first 1/2 MARATHON!

(You can just see me and Brooke's heads behind the girl in red)

The last .5 mile runway was just packed with people

lining both sides. There were just under 3,000 runners and

lots and lots of friends and fans.

We finished in 2:03:27 and

ran the WHOLE 13.1 miles!

Chugged a water bottle then

immediately fell to the ground.

It was so fun to have my roommate to run next to

and pace with me.

This had been a New Years resolution and something

I've wanted to do for SO long.

Seriously, it was one of the most fun physical

activity things I've done. Running through the canyon

with all the leaves on the trees and ground, snow on the

mountain tops, and 3,000 fellow runners

all around me (some very much in costume, since

it was halloween and all)...

At one point I turned off my ipod and just listened

to the river we were running along and the

rhythmic pounding of thousands of shoes

on the pavement.

BEST TIME!

Three of our friends came to cheer us on.

Thanks guys!

Then I went to Ky's to watch the Giants game

while she got ready for a party.

Let's just say I was a little too tired to join her.

So instead of partying, I went home and made

a casserole with Kaitlin and Trevs....

and then homemade Oreos with orange frosting...

and then peanut butter bars...

and then...just kidding.

So my day was a three fold plus, or hat-trick!

Marathon, friends, and cooking.

~Can't wait for my next run~

A sparkly new job

2010-10-19T21:42:00.000-07:00

I got a second job!

Now, three days a week, after I put my little preschoolers on the bus, I go to Lehi and do ABA (applied behavior analysis) therapy privately with a little girl in her home in the evenings.

Today was my first session with her, aaaaannd

as part of one of the reward sessions, we painted her nails...

and then mine. haha. Doesn't everybody know glitter nail polish over acrylic is the new wave in fashion?!?!

I'm getting them done again soon enough, so I didn't care.

And, I'm quickly learning that nothing I wear to either job is going to stay 'nice' for long. My once-nice-shoes have now lost 4 of the 12 gems thanks to having my feet stepped on only about, um, I don't know, maybe 20 times a day. And I frequently come home with food, snot, slobber, and bubbles on my clothes and in my hair.

Today, I came home with banana down the left leg of my jeans; I found rice in my hair from the girl I helped to feed lunch, bubbles on my shirt, and play-dough under my fingernails.

So...

it's not glamorous work, or all that sparkly, but I love the little ones.

~~~At least I'll go into motherhood with my eyes wide open and at least a small idea of what to expect!~~~

115 is an insane #

2010-10-14T17:09:00.000-07:00

I drove down to Vegas last weekend to support daddy-o on his ride.

He and his brother, Uncle Kevin, rode 115 miles on their bikes.

Insane. Exhausting. A once-in-a-lifetime-experience...

or so I thought.

The night before they were all pumped full of pasta, water, and had everything out ready to grab at 5 the next morning. I came downstairs and surprised them around 4:45 am to see them off. They had tons of gatorade, 'gue' (some electrolyte pudding-type stuff which I actually like), electrolyte chews, cliff bars, etc.

That night, after coming in the house and immediately falling to the floor, we heard nothing but "Ah", "Oh", "That was crazy!", "I can't stand that gue!", "Oh that mile 67...or 90...". I guess someone named Bernie asked my Uncle Kevin if he would ever do something like this again. He said, "Bernie...tomorrow this bike is on Ebay!" And daddy said, "I told Marie to shoot me if I ever talk about doing something like this again!"

This was Saturday.

On Monday, daddy texts me saying he's already thinking about doing something like it again.

I guess it was fun!

Brought them a curb-side lunch.

Then, of course grandma took us out for food, multiple times!

With grandma, you can always count on food and shopping. LOVE it~

Costco

2010-10-05T15:57:00.000-07:00

...they always have the most amazing things.

One of my favorite lines from that new show "Modern Family" goes something like this:

"I'm like Costco...I'm big, I'm cheap, and I dare you not to like me."

How true that is. I mean, who doesn't love a good taster from Costco???

Thank you Costco, for the joy you bring to my life.

State Fair

2010-09-29T21:54:00.000-07:00

New Year...New Friends

We all went to the State Fair in Salt Lake

I have this thing for pigs...

don't know when it started...

don't know why I do...

but I just love them.

So this was obviously a picture I couldn't pass up.

I want this BBQ when I grow up.

~Wilber~

I felt a special connection with him :)

Then we saw the rabbits.

Made me miss my two little ones I used to have,

"dots" and "fluffy"

Fun night, fun friends, and a fun fair.

23/100

2010-09-20T21:18:00.000-07:00

Today is my 23rd Birthday

Yeah!

Ya know how some people ask if you're having a good birthday,

and you say 'yeah' when maybe it felt just like a normal day?

Well, that wasn't today. It totally felt like my birthday!

It was so great.

Today I...

1) Let myself sleep-in till 8:00

2) Woke up to Ty's phone call saying he wanted to be

the first one to wish me a Happy Birthday.

3) Walked out my door to a heart attack. All the hearts said things like: purple, costco chocolate milk, long blonde hair, glitter nails, Africa/Peru/India, steak salad, psychology, salt, singing, greatest laugh, running, etc. All things I love. Mostly I just love them. (And the missing balloon popped and scared me to death early this morning).

4) Went for a long run with just me and my ipod. 12 MILES!

5) Hung out at the mall with Kaitlin and Brooke.

6) Opened mama and daddy's birthday package. Woo hoo!

7) Had friends come over, piled in the car, then followed Call and Whit up the canyon for a birthday BBQ. Call and Whit planned everything!

All I had to do was invite whoever I wanted, then show up. He had lots of chips, drinks, burgers, and Marie Calendar's chocolate pie complete with candles. He manned the grill the whole time while we girls just talked and ate and laughed.

Kylie, Sally, Tori and I (past roommates)

Jenny, Brooke, Me and Kaitlin (my girls)

8) Came home to Trevor (Kate's boyfriend) carrying an amazing chocolate ice cream cake to the door. YUM! Sugar high for sure.

{and in my defense, for my birthday I got a new camera which needed to be charged, so...the pictures today are with my old one. bummer.}

9) Chilled with friends.

One of the most fun birthdays while away from home.

Didn't have to go to work, got to do anything I wanted during the day, was with friends all day, and didn't have to plan my own party. So blessed. This 23rd year is going to be great I can just feel it :)

23/100 was for my 23rd birthday and my 100th post!

Setting out a Fleece

2010-09-12T20:54:00.000-07:00

Oh great God, be small enough to hear me now.

There were times when I was crying from the dark of Daniel's den,

and I have asked you once or twice if you would part the seas again.

But tonight I do not need a fiery pillar in the sky,

just need to know you're ganna hold me if I start to cry.

Oh great God, be small enough to hear me now.

Oh great God, be close enough to feel you now.

Oh great God, be close to me.

There have been moments when I could not face Goliath on my own,

and how could I forget we marched around our share of Jericho.

But I will not be setting out a fleece for you tonight,

just want to know that everything will be all right.

Oh great God, be close enough to feel you now.

All praise and all the honor be

to the God of ancient mysteries.

Whose every sign and wonder turned the pages of our history.

But tonight my heart is heavy and I cannot keep from whispering this prayer,

Are you there?

And I know you could leave writing on the wall that's just for me.

Or send wisdom while I'm sleeping like in Solomon's sweet dreams.

But I don't need the strength of Sampson, or a chariot in the air.

Just want to know that you still know how many hairs are on my head.

Oh great God, are you small enough?

Be small enough to hear me now.

~Mindy Gledhill~

Tonight I took a walk up to the temple.

Listened to this song and it stuck with me.

Particularly,

"But I will not be setting out a fleece for you tonight"

This is a reference to Judges 6:36-40,

the story of Gideon who was a leader who delivered Israel from the Midionites.

We are counseled to not be a sign seeking people, as this story is of seeking a sign...but I think there is wisdom in remembering that our Father is a God of miracles.

Elder Boyd K. Packer:

If you are helpless, he is not.

If you are lost, he is not.

If you don't know what to do next, he knows.

It would take a miracle you say?

Well, if it takes a miracle, why not?

Sometimes we may need the strength that comes from setting out our fleece and seeing the hand of the Lord create a miracle. But most times, I think that our miracles can and do come through the miracle of prayer. We are children of a God. He has given us our intelligence and minds to think and act for ourselves. Further, he has not left us comfortless. He has given us the gift of the Holy Ghost to guide us in our feelings and decisions.

He is not helpless, lost, or unknowing of what to do next.

And He is a God of miracles.

But for those times we aren't setting out our fleece...

remember He is small enough to hear us.

Encore

2010-09-11T15:51:00.000-07:00

Grandma and Grandpa, before they knew about their surprise party, went to a bit of effort to schedule a breakfast so they could see as many grandkids as they could while they were in Utah. So, just a few days after the party, a small group of us got together as a little encore to a few evenings before. We met for breakfast at Magleby's and we all had bottomless french toast. That was a joke since anyone who can finish one whole plate, (and I'm pretty sure cousin Matt did), would be crazy to go back for seconds. However, the buttermilk syrup is perfection so it's tempting.

Afterwards, I took this photo with my grandma...

and was kinda shocked when I looked at it. I have never before noticed how very much I look like her. At least I think I do.

Our smiles are like identical,

our coloring is similar,

and I really like it!

~Yeah for family~

Happy Anniversary

2010-09-02T21:06:00.000-07:00

My Uncle Rick & Aunt Debi threw my grandparents a surprise Anniversary party tonight in Springville, Utah at the new Magleby's Restaurant.

Grandma thought it was their 61st.

Grandpa thought it was their 62nd.

I said, "Well, once you hit 60, the numbers get kinda fuzzy."

He said, "Anne, at my age, a lot of things get kinda fuzzy!"

~Love them~

Before dinner we just sort of hung out together.

We had the whole basement to ourselves for our little family party.

Cousin Grant with his niece, Ava.

She was 'washing' her toy dogs in the fountain.

Cousin Karin, recently returned from Philadelphia where her

new husband BEN

was interning for the summer.

SO glad she is back...and yes, we already picked up on our three year(+) tradition of Tuesday night ice cream this past Tuesday.

Then, Grandpa made the rounds in conversation with the family members.

Ann (wife of cousin Jamin)

Cousin Rob, grandpa, my brother Call, and cousin Ganon.

Cousin Grant with his daughter, Monet

Karin and Ben Meyers

Karin got a free cake with a bow on it because her dish was the last to come out and the manager felt bad. I offered to give her my half eaten dish of pasta and said I would wait for the late food (and free cake) but apparently she wasn't interested in the trade.

Jamin and Ann

Cousin Lyn and I

(She recently changed her hair to an Auburn and it's so pretty)

Then Grandpa stood up and said he wanted to give a 'speech.'

It was sweet and we were laughing, then they got tender and I realized I should be recording it. So here's the last little snippet...

What a blessing to be a part of such a family and heritage.

We had 19 in total:

Uncle Rick

Aunt Debi

Cousin Rob

His daughter Ava

Cousin Ganon

Cousin Grant

His wife Hayley

His daughter Monet

Cousin Matt

Cousin Lyn

Cousin Jamin

His wife Ann

Cousin Chase

Cousin Call

Cousin Karin

Her husband Ben

Grandma

Grandpa

...and the rest of the family in spirit.

We missed you all!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

Rosie

2010-08-29T17:35:00.000-07:00

Rosie would be proud of me...

...cus I've joined the work force!

As a recent grad, and in preparation for grad school,

I felt this year was a good time

to start working and building my resumé.

I'd like to get my masters in Marriage Family Therapy,

then get my PPS certificate to be a counselor to little children.

...and in preparation for that...

I just finished my first week of work at

Foothill Elementary as an

Autism Aide!

I am technically an employee of Wasatch Mental Health.

They have a set-up with Alpine School District

which allows them to use their facilities.

So...

it's like we're a part of the school,

but we also do our own thing.

There are 3 classrooms at Foothill Elementary

with each class having 12 kids,

1 teacher,

and 5 aides.

The Autism program is called Giant Steps.

It was started in 1997

and has been a huge success with more

than 100 kids on the waiting list.

The children are ages 3-5 and are divided

based on skill level instead of age.

I have been assigned to the lowest functioning level,

so I get all the sweet little ones just beginning the program

or returning for a second year.

Our day consists of activities like:

calendar

work sessions

bathroom (potty training haha)

lunch

play time

music

group

computers

etc.

The classroom is such a happy atmosphere. Colorful posters, cubbies of toys and paint, charts of activities for that day, miniature chairs, and then add 11 small bodies, backpacks and pairs of shoes and it's a party!

Every day, there are 4-5 very organized sessions

where we work with the kids to teach them

general things like letters, numbers, and colors.

Then we practice more specialized things like

sitting still with feet on the ground and hands in lap, quiet voices,

learning how to point their finger, use sign-language, imitate simple actions,

and follow basic instructions like "stand up", "color the picture", or "push the toy car."

For example:

One "work session" may consist of first beginning with teaching the child to sit with feet on the ground for three seconds. They are then immediately rewarded by an option of two reinforcers,

like cereal or a toy. They have to point their finger and sign "please" to receive the reinforcer. This step alone may take quite a few weeks to really 'get down'. Gradually we work up to adding having hands in lap, being quiet, and eye contact.

The eye contact has been the most interesting step for me to watch a child learn. The simple act of responding to their name being called and being able to look you in the eye for 3 seconds with feet on the floor and hands in lap and not making noise is huge!

Being my first week, I experienced a lot of 'firsts' and already it's such a blur.

You have to chart the simplest activities that show improvement, I can tell it is going to be a slower process, but so rewarding. I hope I never forget the first moment of success I had in one of my work sessions where a little boy had feet down, hands in lap, quiet voice and looked me straight in the eye for three seconds. It was such a thrill I just know I'm in the right place.

~Children~

After living alone for two weeks I am absolutely soaking up every ounce of love these children give me. They hug with open love and when they laugh...the sound is pure happiness.

One little boy got the HUGEST kick out of a toy phone as one of his reinforcers.

He would push the button and Buzz Lightyear's voice would sound

and he just laughed and laughed. I picked up that he likes anything that makes noise,

so the other day on the play ground I ran my nails along the metal fence and said,

"Listen. Noise." That's all it took. He got a huge smile, imitated my action and, laughing, said,

"Noise! Noise!" over and over. Simple pleasures.

I am SO blessed and excited to work this year with these children.

The soul is healed by being with children.

English Proverb

why

2010-08-21T21:31:00.000-07:00

So, do you ever have those moments in your family

where you ask yourself...why?

I found some old photos. Good examples of the

many many times I've asked myself 'why' through the years.

Why do brothers like to scare their sisters?

Why did dad used to make us wear zink-oxide

on our noses?

Why do we think we're funny?

Why the cup of water to the face?

Always with the splashing.

Why do I love this boy so much?

Why would one think to do this?

Why is this fun?

Why bagpipes?

Why didn't I think of this particular photo-op?

Why not?

I stopped asking why a long time ago...

and just joined in with the laughter.

Except when I ask myself.

"Why am I so dang blessed with the best family ever?!"

Let's get together...

2010-08-15T15:56:00.000-07:00

...and party!

I'm back in Utah and some of my sweet friends,

knowing I'm in my apt. alone till the roommies come back for school,

have invited me to get together with them and play.

Sally had a dinner party at her house.

We all sat on pillows around a table mat on the ground.

Green salad, fruit salad, baked sweet potatoes and scones.

Yum

Then Linds got married!

Lindsay and I lived in VP appartments together two years ago.

Ironically, she and Joe just bought a house that is quite literally "a stones's throw" from my place. I can look out my window and see their back porch where we sometimes hang out and talk because their AC is non-existent.

That's ok. India toughened me up against heat.

Hailey and I drove up to Draper to spend a little bit of time with our childhood friend Christy on her 24th birthday. Her sister took us and all 5 of her kids to John's Incredible Pizza, where we ate, rode go-carts, and just caught up. If it's your birthday you are 'required' to wear the bigyellow sticker that says "It's My Birthday!" so everyone can wish you a happy birthday over and over. Not surprisingly, it did just that. Yeah Christy!

Childhood friends like that just know you to the soul.

No explanations, no hesitations, no secrets.

Ooh, then I was invited to go Friday night with friends to the Jack Johnson concert in S.L.

Marin, Me, Kate and Brandon.

I didn't realize this, but Usana Stadium is outdoors.

A perfect summer night with chill beach music on a night of a meteor shower was just too fun.

Funnily enough, I was explaining to Hailey Thursday how I was going to the Jack Johnson concert and I didn't even have any of his music because for some reason I just wasn't the biggest fan. She thought it was funny I was even going, but I just wanted to give it a try and see what he was like live, and just get together with friends if nothing else.

He was SO good!

Totally changed my opinion of him. Needless to say, I will shortly own his newest CD.

Thanks friends for all the fun get-togethers!

I'll Walk with You

2010-08-07T13:28:00.000-07:00

If you don't walk as most people do,

Some people walk away from you,

But I won't! I won't!

If you don't talk as most people do,

Some people talk and laugh at you,

But I won't! I won't!

I'll walk with you. I'll talk with you.

That's how I'll show my love for you.

Jesus walked away from none.

He gave his love to ev'ryone.

So I will! I will!

Jesus blessed all he could see,

Then turned and said, "Come, follow me."

And I will! I will!

I will! I will!

I'll walk with you. I'll talk with you.

That's how I'll show my love for you.

My little brother Call has been working at Mesa Vista. This is a home for mentally challenged adults and youth. He wakes them up, gets them all clean, dressed and ready for the day, then feeds them breakfast. Other shifts allow him to spend more time visiting with them during their activities and everyday he learns more about each person he interacts with, their differences, quirks, personal habits and preferences, and their own unique individual spirits.

Call has told me story after story of the highs and lows of working with a sometimes challenging population. But Call by far sees, in his mind, more highs than lows. He has a special way of seeing these people and he feels an understanding for their hearts and minds.

A few weeks back, our family was at a reunion in Idaho. Two of the extended family members had children with similar handicaps as the people he works with. He had such an easy way about him when he was talking with them both. He would look up and catch my eye as I watched him and that classic "Call smile" would break over his face and I could't help but think how happy the Savior must be to see his children loving one another like that.

I'll walk with you. I'll talk with you.

That's how I'll show my love for you.

I was so proud to be his sister,

to see my little Call being such an example to me

of how to love.

~I love you Call~

*Recommended reading: "Those Who Are Different" by Elder Marlin K. Jensen. (Click on the Title.) Featured in THE ENSIGN OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS---August 2010.

On the Go

2010-07-29T16:21:00.000-07:00

I have been so absent from this blog since returning home! The past few weeks, I have been enjoying home, yet somehow still on the go. Most recently, I road tripped through Utah and Idaho...visited some friends and family, job hunted, and went to a family reunion. Here's a nice smorgasbord of photos from pretty much everywhere.

Wedding

Road Trip

Cambria

Mama in Utah

Soda Ranch Family Reunion

Answers to Fears

2010-06-15T15:42:00.000-07:00

To be honest, I have been afraid to get back on my blog since coming home. I think I was afraid of what I would feel when I looked through the photos; sad it was all really actually over. Did I realize as often as I should have what a unique experience I was living?

Now that I'm home, it's been another mental adjustment. Driving home from the airport with mom and dad, my eyes felt different as I looked out of the window. I've become accustomed to seeing one thing, now I'm back to another life. In a moment I realized that for a brief while, without noticing it, the foreign became the normal for me. And as much as my life at home is still completely my 'true' normal, there's a part of my mind that still feels very much in a daze with India seeming like my normal. You fly half way around the world in a day and can't just expect to sever the connections in your mind with a way of life just because you're not physically in that place anymore. I've found myself looking at things and seeing the comparison in my head of how things were in India.

For example:

-Water. Here it's cold and comes out of a faucet. I'm used to warm and seeing it drawn from a well, having to double check with each new source that it's clean and 'safe' to drink.

-Sidewalks. Well, they actually exist here. I'm used to gutters and dirt with trash everywhere.

-Skylines. Here I see buildings. I'm used to palm trees and cow filled fields.

-Carpet. Here we have it in our cars, houses, and even bathrooms. I'm used to concrete and tile, where you take off your shoes before entering a home or business to help keep it clean.

-Houses. They're so big! I'm used to one room concrete homes where families sleep on mats outside to escape the heat, with cows, dogs and frogs right there with them.

The air, the food, the noise...it's all so different. I'm used to people and cows being everywhere outside, inside, on the streets and in the rivers; eating, laughing and living. Here it seems people spend the majority of the time inside.

Culture. There's just a noticeable culture difference.

The last few nights, my dreams have been evidence of the mild culture shock you go through with experiences like this. I've had elements of India intermixed with elements of home, like my mind is saying it realizes I'm home, but my heart is still crossing back over from India a little slower than my body. I wake up with memories of shopping for bindis and bracelets, but find I'm in Turlock instead of Tamilnadu, or I dream of having held children all night long in a school yard that might be in India, but could be anywhere.

And on my favorite mornings, I wake up with the echos of conversations in my head, where people ask whether or not I'll be going back now that I know what to expect, and I always answer yes.

The echoes of those conversations and my answers of 'yes' have been tender mercies for the unspoken fears of my mind. I've been secretly fearful that after coming home and having every comfort of life restored to me, I would compare the feelings of 'here' and 'there' and categorize one as better and the other as worse. I think I was afraid I would too easily remember all the hard times of India and forget the many many wonderful, beautiful, and unique memories I made these last three weeks. I was afraid I would give off a negative impression of my time in India because of how hard it was, when in reality the short time I spent there was one of the most wonderful and teaching experiences of my life so far, with friends I've made for a lifetime.

Lastly, I was afraid that if someone asked me if I'd ever go back...I might say no.

But how can you say no to this?!

So, I view my jumbled dreams of India and America as answers to my unspoken, unformed prayers and fears. I view the echos of conversations in my dreams, where I repeatedly answer 'yes' to questions of going back to India, as evidence that my heart grew to love a country that offered very few comforts; as peaceful confirmation that we can remember the joys of things learned while forgetting the occasional pain of the learning process; and as merciful answers to fears nobody heard me say aloud, but my Heavenly Father heard me pray inside.

*To those I contacted before I left, who generously donated to Rising Star Outreach, thank you again. I hope you feel you were a part of the good work that is being done to bless the lives of the people and children of India. I witnessed their gratitude personally, and it is genuine.*

Don't let the day end

2010-06-10T11:36:00.000-07:00

Why does everything seem more beautiful when something comes to an end?

Today was our last day at RSO. At times I thought this day would never come, like when the sweat and flies became part of a normal day. And at other times, I swore we were skipping days because there was no way a week had gone by already...then two...then three.

We spent time this morning at a colony called Moot. There are only 7 people still living from this colony, the rest having passed away from affects of leprosy. They had the place so clean and tidy it was picturesque. Maybe my standard of beauty, or my definition of picturesque, is somewhat skewed from a 'normal' ideal, but the morning was beautiful.

His wife...

...and family.

It definitely had a feeling of family and community with so few members of the colony left. They are all they have. Each other. It might not have been my most touching of experiences while here, but it was still beautiful. Not every moment has to be profound. Some of life's moments are just what they are...normal. That being said, I'm slightly humored at myself for thinking that sitting in a leper colony in the back country of India felt just sort of 'normal.' Maybe India is getting into me more than I realized. I did wake up this morning and smiled when I realized last night was the first night I dreamt of India, holding the fingerless hands of a nameless someone.

We danced and played music with them, just to enjoy the movement. One man who no longer has fingers, toes, or much of his right leg, sat watching all of the movement. I turned to see a blue water pitcher in a doorway and ran to pick it up. I turned it upside down and started beating it like a drum. After handing it to him, that man didn't stop beating that water pitcher for almost the rest of the time. It was nice he could be a part.

After we got back, we started brainstorming in the Mango room for ideas of what to do for 'our wall.' There's a space along the back wall behind the kitchen where every group of volunteers gets to paint something that represents their group's time here at RSO. We tried forever to come up with something, anything; we started throwing out the cheesiest of ideas. I suggested we write "Foundation for Tomorrow" on it, and we actually did. Ha! I had Matthew pull off some banana leaves from the tree to pour our paint on because we had no plates, and I realized how much I'm going to miss everyone and just having fun doing things I'll never do again.

Then play time again. Afterwards, we ran home to take showers then back to our houses to get dressed for our special dinner. When I walked in to the house, Raji was up on one of the bunk beds of the girls. When she saw me she yelled, "Anne Marie!" and jumped off. I showed her my beautiful sari and she held it to her chest and said how beautiful it was. Yeah! She helped me and Lauren get dressed because tying a sari is not easy. Then she just didn't stop! Put a bindi on our foreheads, and some paint in a dot, then pulled out a necklace and put it around my neck. I felt so fancy! I'm going to miss my house of girls.

Tonight, before leaving the house for the last time, I took 'my girls' faces in my hands and told them I loved them. Chase (my older brother) took my face in his hands once and I remember thinking what a sign of affection that was for me.

Like mother like daughter. When Tierty saw me all in my sari, she ran and wrapped a towel around herself and called it her sari. (Remember...this is the little one that calls me 'Mom.')

Parota, sauce, and cucumbers. That was dinner. Parota has been talked up so much by the leaders, they saved it for the last day to let us try it authentic. It came in square shaped packages wrapped individually in newspaper and tied in string. It was dang heavy. Good. Kind of like a buttery roll/croissant/tortilla? Now you're asking yourself what better combination you could possibly ask for? Not many.

Then we had the best little meeting all together in the Mango room. Amy made a short slide show, then everyone shared a story or journal entry they particularly remembered. I have cried maybe two times this whole trip. Once when I was sick, and another when Ambarasu looked me straight in the eye when I asked him in the colony one day where his mother was and he matter-of-factly replied in the squeakiest voice while shaking my hand, "I don't have a mother." Oh. Stab. Instant tears.

Anyway, tonight was a teary night. The stories everyone shared were so personal, different, and relatable for me. A few shared stories I had never heard, which I appreciated hearing. And one volunteer talked briefly about regret; things he did and things he didn't. I've never been a fan of the word regret. People speak of regrets when they are sad and wishing for change in the past. I am sure there were moments I could have summoned up just a little more energy to work a little bit harder or longer. But that's just the way things are. And tonight I feel I can walk on the airplane tomorrow and feel the way Amy asked us to feel, exhausted, happy, and content that we gave all we felt we could give. I'm looking forward to that feeling.

Then as the absolute BEST going away present ever...RAIN!

Yes, it is 2:00 A.M. in the morning. Yes, I just went out in all my clothes into a courtyard filled with half a foot of water. Yes, we threw buckets of water at each other and danced in the rain. Yes, we are boycotting letting the day end. Yes, I am waking up in 5 hours to travel for days...not to go to sleep again until Sunday morning.

And YES, this was the best end to a

life changing trip that any of us could have asked for!

Is that a rain jacket???

2010-06-09T03:09:00.000-07:00

YUP

Because of the rain, construction was canceled. So I got to choose whether to go with medical or stay with the kids. Much of the medical teaching today was going to be in Tamil which I knew I would not understand, so the kids won out.

Three kids told me they were cold today. Seriously? Are you seriously telling me this? You know you're somewhere hot when mid 80's is cold.

This letter of P. Vijay was my favorite. First off, he numbered his sentences. It says: "1. On holiday, I played with my brother. 2. It is rainy today and I am cold. (I would like to point out it's 82 degrees and perfect!) 3. Yesterday I learned about Thomas Edison. 4. I saw an elephant when I was home." And that was the letter. I think he covered all the high points.

Then I saw the Hendershot kid's playing in the big puddles. They are so grateful for the rain. They've been here 6 months and have 6 more to go. Wow.

It was Belle's birthday, the youngest of the 5 kids. So her mom, Sarah, dressed her up in the native dress, flowers, and passed out candy. It's what all the kids do on their birthday when they're here.

And after they gathered for evening prayer...

there was cake!

Heads up...Indian cake...not good. Like biting into a sugar cube.

I got to read with a student today who was pretty good in English. He told me I could call him Steven. Some have such long names they give themselves 'short' names or easier ones. He chose a Goosebumps book. My favorite words that he asked me to define for him were: garage, backyard, Easter Egg Hunt (gave me a weird look like "why would you decorate fake eggs and hide them around outside?"),

chubby, exploded, and agree.

*took a nap*

Definitely one of my highs of the day. I think it's my body telling

me it's done...and time for me to go home...and to stop

being a vegetarian. Meat here is sketchy so there's

serious protein deficiency happening in me :)

~~~~~~~

I swear it's like India knows how to cram two days into one. There's morning, with all the groups, which feels like an entire day. Then evening, with the playtime, dinner and story time with the kids.

On Wednesday's we teach talent classes. I chose to teach how to make bracelets.

I think I tied about 40 black strings to these boys' arms who didn't

get to make one. Tried to teach them to stand in a line

and if they fought...no bracelet!

"Auntie, auntie...me, me, me! Auntie, this boy is beating

(their word for hitting)! Line, line, line!" Yeah, that's about

what I heard the whole time.

Love it.

Can I just say how much I love that

Anita's just takin' a break from homework,

picking her nose? She was busy writing from 1-100, then 100-1

(which she didn't want to do backwards, so started from the

number one at the bottom of the page and just wrote in order

all the way back to the top of the page. Ok.)

Raji

Sujata never smiles. One of the kids must have snapped this. She has no family and has taken to one of the girls, calling her her sister. I'm sure there's lots I don't know about Sujata's history, so I'm so happy to know she smiles sometimes.

I got to really get to know Raji tonight. She loves just talking to me and telling me all about her family. We sat on the floor (which is where one sits like 80% of the time here!) and she showed me all her photos on her phone of her brothers, parents and home. I think she really loved the attention and getting to show me who she was. She's a neat girl.

So the rain made for an excellent surprise this morning, and let me stay and play with the kids one extra day. Bugs unfortunately love to come inside when it's wet out, but that's ok. It's India. A lot of things just get brushed off these days...cus it's India. What'r you ganna do?

Easy

2010-06-08T03:44:00.000-07:00

We're not supposed to give the kids gifts but...I promised Venamallar yesterday I would bring her some 'Boomer'. That's the kind of gum they have so, technically it wasn't Boomer, but she was pretty happy either way.

~Abbi~

The kids take my camera and just run with it and sometimes you get the most fun candid photos. Abbi and I really clicked tonight~

RSO has a Star Store where the kids can 'purchase' toys with stars they earn by doing homework and behaving well at school. Tuesdays are Star Store Days.

My Boys!

One of the kids purchased a cricket set and soon we had a miniature game goin'. I would do a super dramatic wind up for my pitch and they would just laugh and laugh! The boy who pitched after me copied me a little and I was so honored. ha.

We had the most beautiful sunset tonight. Most colorful one we've seen from the roof so far.

View from the rooftop of the kids eating dinner in the courtyard. There's a big mess hall under construction for the kids, so soon they'll have a proper place to eat.

~You do the strangest things for fun here~

Earlier today I was with the medical group. This van is like an ambulance inside with benches on the side so you face inward, a sink, cupboards, and med supplies. We drove it two hours to a little colony that's almost totally ulcer free. That's a big deal because, like I explained before, the people lose feeling from the leprosy and develop big sores and ulcers from infections in which they feel no pain. RSO comes into the colonies and gives them self-help kits which, if they are faithful with, can heal their ulcers. Being an ulcer free colony means people are actually using the help RSO is giving them and attending to their own sores. Yeah! So we saw very few patients because of their own diligence. After opening two colonies two weeks ago and seeing 200 patients with ulcers, this is rewarding to see that the self-help kits we gave can really work.

I just liked his glasses that are held on by a string around his head. Resourceful, no?

Stopped at another colony RSO has helped by building an art school and administering micro loans. These were the hundreds of paintings the leprosy affected people have done. Lots of creativity in that little room.

This woman signaled to me she wanted her photo taken at the well.

I thought it was quite pretty, so I'm glad she asked.

My only patient today.

Dr. Kumar

With so few patients, we had time to walk in and around the colony since it had been such a long drive, and we weren't anxious to get right back in the van and travel some more.

Today was just the easiest day so far. I woke up in the best mood and it carried through the whole day. Guess I've adjusted to everything here and know what is expected. The heat isn't as stifling, the work is enjoyable, and I recognize and can name so many of the kids. They played with my hair so much tonight because I didn't wrap it in a bun. Even my house mom, Raji, checked me for lice and then just kept playing with it, as she told me about her family. It eventually ended up in pigtails. She does all her girls' hair each morning. She's only 21 and in charge of like 18 kids, plus whoever else wanders into her hostel house. She is so on top of it all. Lauren and I could just tell from day one that we totally lucked out with our house mom because she's sharp.

The girls were much calmer in the house and we stayed an hour and a half! Longest we've ever been with them in the evenings. Play time was just so easy and fun, then evening time in the house was so easy, calm, happy and fun. They talked, laughed, asked me what my freckles were (totally didn't even think about the fact that they don't have them), put bugs down my shirt and each others, and climbed all over my lap for stories, made me draw "art! art!" saying "oh super Auntie. Super!", braided my hair, etc. We were laughing the whole time.

Durka was just singing to herself and K. Gracie. I guess pretending to read?!

We do this thing at dinner time where we tell our high of the day and our low. My highs were baseball with the boys, laughing with Abbi, evening with Nadia and K. Gracie, and actually having to think about what in the world my low was ganna be.

I guess my low was having to let the day end.

~Today was the best day~

What sound does 'g' make?

2010-06-07T09:41:00.000-07:00

Nittya

Abbi & Bujji

I was in the school today (Monday) and tutored quite a bit. First the 7th and 8th standard grades, then the 3rd. The teachers here all teach by rote. Ex: T.H.E.N...then. G.O...go C.A.T...cat. They don't really focus on teaching the kids the actual sounds as much as pure memorization. They say it and the kids repeat it over and over. RSO is trying to help the teachers learn a more phonetic approach so the kids can learn to sound out a word on their own instead of pure memorization that g.o. spells 'go' yet not know that 'g' makes the 'guh' sound.

So with this little one, we started out with some Clifford books, then gradually moved down to the simple Dr. Seuss ABC book trying to come up with words that start with 'a', 'b', 'c', etc. Very slow and repetitive, but the kids need to learn the concepts.

Taught some of my girls about longitude and latitude tonight. It was their science reading for homework. They all love volunteering to read and I make them tell me after we read a sentence or section what we just read. Comprehension is hard when you're just working on saying the words. But when they ask what a word means they say, "Goals means?" And I'll say, "Goals means 'aim', or 'want'." You have to find a word they understand and sometimes you'll go through a couple until you see it register in their face. Fun and new for me.

Then play time!

Maybe it was the weather, or just the fact that I've adjusted to this routine, but today was great! Played duck duck goose, tag, sat on a bench and talked and took photo after photo because cameras are so the most popular item with the kids. Amy has challenged us to leave everything we have with the kids, emotionally, physically, and spiritually cus it's all coming to a close so soon. The kids soak up everything you give.

Rosemary & Nadia

Venamallar

'Uncle' (a house father) everyone loves.

Tierty

She, for whatever reason, started calling me 'mom.' So now whenever we see each other she says, "Hi mom." And I say, "Hi daughter." It's just our thing.

Seriously, for like 10 minutes this little one sat here and just jabbered away in Tamil. Apparently she really didn't care I never responded cus I had no idea what she was saying.

So cute.

And today was only in the low 90's so, of course, the kids all pulled out blankets to sleep with cus it was just way too cold.

???

Seeing

2010-06-07T00:08:00.000-07:00

Our trip to Delhi! So wonderful to get a chance to be tourists and get a real flavor for the culture. I got to see the India I've always had in my mind. We left the campus at 4 A.M. Friday all dressed in our not-so-formfitting genie pants to fly to Delhi. The airline we used was called Spicejet, which we all loved. Grabbed cookies at a little shop which turned out had to last us another 12 hours. Would have grabbed the whole cookie jar had I known! We were just too busy shopping and seeing the winding back streets of Old Delhi riding on rickshaws.

For a second I thought I was in Paris...

I finally bought my sari! It is so gorgeous. I have to have my top tailored so no photos yet, but they will come. We found the shop in one of the side streets.

We took our shoes off at the door and were led upstairs to a room covered in padded white floors, walls lined with stacks of fabric, and men lounging on the floor drinking tea. The tailor wrapped Kennedy in our choice of fabric in front of floor to ceiling mirrors. It was amazing how fast and perfectly he could wrap it. I watched close, so I'm pretty sure I got it. No part of the fabric is sewn except the little shirt.

Grabbed some popsicles made from fruit, nuts, and some pepper spice. Good cus it was cold and new, but probably wouldn't be a hot item in the states.

After finishing up with walking through the oldest temples in Old Delhi (a tour none of us actually understood because the old man's accent was so thick we just nodded our heads and smiled to each other) we stopped at Pizza Hut and never thought we'd been so happy to see American food. Sad.

Five hours to Agra. Our group is so small we really have fun together, so the time was fun. Snacked on our pizza as we told stories and laughed, then people started to sleep.

~~~~~~~

When it got all dark outside I turned on some calm music and while everyone fell asleep, I looked out my window and just watched the people, feeling my mind and heart change; everything I see teaches and affects me faster than I feel I can learn.

There's something about evening times driving through the streets of a foreign place that is very calming to me. Drowning out the horns and loud noises of the streets, it's easier for my mind and heart to see the people and not be distracted by everything else. We drove past one area where old apartments made of concrete had walls and roofs crumbling down and I could see into the homes. I could see people cooking, washing laundry and pots, and sitting just watching back out at the world. I had this overwhelming feeling, like pressure on your heart. There are so many people in this world. My Grandma Rowan said something once that I wrote down and have thought of many times. Nothing earth-shattering, but I can still hear her voice in my head saying, "My there are a lot of people in this world I don't know!" So true. But it always amazes me to think that my Father in Heaven knows them individually. He knows their joys, sorrows, culture, concerns, and lives in depths and ways I could and will never know.

When He looks into their eyes, he sees them.

I love that I get to see the world even when it's not always beautiful. I love the culture and the flavors of new sights, sounds, and foods. But I hate seeing the poverty and feeling the mental race my mind goes through as I try to process everything I see and feel. I hate that children don't have parents. I hate seeing people in rags, sleeping in dirty corners and living in scrap metal huts. And I hate that I feel at such a loss as to how to help such a worldwide problem. I wish I had a way to help the people not have to work so hard for so little. I wish little children weren't begging on the streets, beaten by parents to make them more pitiful looking to earn sympathy money. I wish I could look everyone in the eye and give them the confidence, love and power that comes from knowing who you really are and the divine potential for strength and greatness they have.

But my many opportunities to travel while still so young have taught me that wishing for these things is an important part of experiencing a new culture. When you're able to spend time with and care for people, you find that you've inadvertently opened your heart to seeing and feeling not only the beautiful but also the ugly.

When you've seen the smiles, the tears are that much harder to see. When you've held the perfect hands of a child, holding the damaged hands of a leper are that much more blatant. And when you've played with the lucky few children in a school yard, the poor and dirty begging children in the street are that much harder to brush off.

There was one boy in particular I remember from the street. He was in a red shirt walking on all fours because of an obvious deformity to his left leg. Certain images stay with you for some reason. I can still see him in my mind as I looked down to my left; seeing his hands on the pavement, one reaching up to beg as he craned his neck to look into my face. I thought, "What an unfair way to spend childhood."

Made invisible by the visibility of his difference.

He is so easily brushed aside down in the dirt where all you have to do is keep your head up and pretend not to see him...because it's hard to see him. But he's there. And I couldn't resist looking him in the eye, saying hello, and asking how he was so maybe, for a second, he wouldn't feel quite so invisible.

~~~~~~~

It can be an exhausting roller coaster of emotions through the day. One moment you are practically singing because the colors of the culture are everywhere around you and you can't believe how beautiful the places of the world are. Then the next moment you wish you were blind so you couldn't see the difficult images that wrap around your heart and compress until it hurts.

I've always wanted to come to India and I never had a reason why. Thought it might have been because of the fabrics, beads and colorful things that this culture is saturated with. But since coming here, there have been a thousand and one times I've seen or felt something where I've thought, "That's why. That's why I've felt drawn to India." And more often than not, those moments have everything to do with people, really seeing the people, and little to do with the 'things' of this land.

~~Taj Mahal post below~~

Taj Mahal

2010-06-06T18:43:00.000-07:00

{Days 2 & 3}

Saturday morning we woke up at the crack of dawn again to be at the bus by 5:15. First off on the schedule? Oh, just the Taj Mahal~

It was so so dusty when we first got there we couldn't even really see the sky cus it was all blowing around.

We beat much of the crowds though and had fun taking tons of photos.

We were told a brief history of its creation, but like most other tours here, I'm lucky if I catch half of it because sometimes the accents are so thick. I did manage to pick out that there are four entrances to the outer courtyard area. The East and West gates are open with hours coordinating with the rising and setting of the sun. And the North and South gates are fixed times. We entered through the East gates, then out the North gates where the Taj Mahal is then directly in front of you.

One neat thing about the decorations inside were the flowers. The orange flowers were made up of like 20 individual stones that glow in the moonlight. Our guide held a flashlight directly over it so the light went into the stones and lit them up as he moved the light across them, as if it was touch sensitive and only the individual petal the flashlight was directly on would light up like a lightbulb. (Photos weren't allowed.)

Second most sacred river in India.

We also had fun walking through the mosques. There are two exact copies of the same building, one to the East and one to the West of the Taj Mahal. The T.M took 22 years to build and all the workers would leave 5 times a day to go and pray. So, they had these mosques built on site so they could cut down on the time the workers were away from work. However, only the West one is ever used because it faces East.

After we finished playing around, we still had a full day ahead of us and it was only 8:30 A.M! We went back to the hotel for a nice breakfast, then off to shop. While out, we managed to randomly find chances to sit on a camel and ride an elephant. Such strange things to do just on a whim, but that's India! We had fun buying shoes for 5 dollars, getting henna done on the street, and eating McDonald's soft serve Sundaes.

We were here for the Elephants, and they were here for us. We were their entertainment!

We got to visit two cool handwork factories. The first was a marble factory where we learned a little how stones are shaped and inlayed in marble. I couldn't stop thinking how much my grandpa would love to see it because he does beautiful stained glass work and could appreciate the colors and creative work.

Next was a carpet/silk factory. There were large looms and walls piled with yarn. They let us tie a piece of yarn on the loom with the guidance of the artist and only one other person besides myself wanted to. I was so surprised. It was very intricate and repetitive and one rug takes 6 months! We got to see how the patterns are designed, painted, then carried through the creation process. So many tedious processes all done by hand! I'll forever appreciate rugs.

One member of our group actually bought a carpet and a marble table, so because of her we got to see lots of designs when they brought them all out to show her. Got to walk on them and feel how soft the silk rugs are. Fancy. We had fun looking through all the fancy silks; a lot of us buying a scarf or something. India is such a country of fabrics and colors. I love it! We also went to a store with all these spices and it was killer to the nose.

Headed back to the hotel for journal writing, then sitting glued to the TV laughing at the awesome Indian music videos and all the dancing. Then dinner. We always try to get new things, but tend to fill up on naan and parota (bread-like tortilla food?) It's not hard to order something new cus the menu's don't offer much guidance. It'll say "Shalai Tal Fuman. The name says it all! A classic favorite" and it's like 'Ok, that helped how?' So, I went to bed with a stomach full of buttery naan and happy to get 8 whole hours of sleep.

~Sunday~

We found our church! I loved that the sign says,

"The Indian Society of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints."

Unfortunately, I didn't have anything but my chuddidar to wear, but it was actually probably one of the most comfortable things I've ever worn to church. It was neat to feel the similarity of the Church wherever you go, while also appreciating the beautiful differences of dress.

Then, just another travel day! Seven hours on a bus and three hours on a plane. Crazy how fast and yet how slow it has all been. It was a whirlwind of a weekend. But, it gave us a flavor of walking in and around a foreign city and appreciating the little details you can't see from a bus or working on campus or in a leper colony.

Sew Purple

Mel

Clinic

~~~Thanksgiving~~~

The Boston Haps

The Bog Blog

At Water's Edge

Something to me

Stokes Manse

A little bit-o-everything

Fame

Motherese

Inspiration

Nottinghill News

The Best Days

Fabulous 50

D.C.

Placed

Flower Patch

MDT & Snails

Friday Night Fiasco

Blood

Made the Cut

Ma Babes

Yummies

Hold the Phone...

10:44

Nutz

Remember

Hat-trick

A sparkly new job

115 is an insane #

Costco

State Fair

23/100

Setting out a Fleece

Encore

Happy Anniversary

Rosie

why

Let's get together...

I'll Walk with You

On the Go

Answers to Fears

Don't let the day end

Is that a rain jacket???

Easy

What sound does 'g' make?

Seeing

Taj Mahal

~Thanksgiving~