State Fair

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

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

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

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

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

Me

Cousin Call

Cousin Karin

Her husband Ben

Grandma

Grandpa

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

We missed you all!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

Rosie

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

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...

...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!