When I was in junior high I started reading these books by Lurelene McDaniel about people with life altering medical conditions. Though my affair with these sort of books was short lived some how I came across a book about a girl in a hospice home. I forget the name of the book and I'm not sure if McDaniel even wrote it but I read it the same time I discovered McDaniel and it had the same flavor as her writing. Hospice was a foreign idea to me and even after reading that book I never needed an opportunity to think about it again but the one thing I took from that book was hospice is where sick people go to die comfortably.
Two weeks ago I joined my mom, dad, and grandfather at the hospital to discuss hospice care for my dad's mom who has been battling her third round of cancer for the last nine years.
I've known this was coming. We all did but there was plenty of denial. I guess we just all expected her to die suddenly instead of having to prepare for it head on and make arrangements for her comfort until the inevitable happens.
About the same time I came home from my mission my parents remodeled the house so it had an apartment attached to it. The garage got expanded to a two bedroom (with a walk in closet but really it's big enough to be a small bedroom), two bathroom, with another room for storage, complete with a full kitchen and living room apartment. I think the smallest part of the apartment is the dining area which fits a table of four. It's rather large for an apartment but it was designed to be a place for our disabled elderly.
When hospice was brought up we didn't think nursing home. That's not how we think in this family. We thought of the apartment and knew this was the best thing we could do for my grandparents. We all knew Grandpa couldn't take care of her the way she needs and now she has lots of family close by to assist in her every need.
It hasn't been easy for any of us. Especially my grandma and mom. Though service has never been a problem for my mom the magnitude of what's involved in hospice care was slightly overwhelming at first. But after a schedule was made and portions of the day assigned to different members of the family it has become a fluid process.
I arrive in the mornings Tuesday - Friday to give my parents a break and to spend time with Grandma. I enjoy being with her and helping her. It's hard to describe how it feels to take care of her. Service and charity are not new things to me but these feeling of service and charity...the love...that is new. It's a constant companion not unlike what I felt serving on a mission.
I know it's hard for Grandma to not be in her home, in her bed. Needing to rely on others for the barest of needs. She struggles and feels weak. I hurt for her and want her to be happy. Even though I find so much joy in serving her, more than anything I want her to feel less helpless. I wish I knew how.
Thursday, November 05, 2009
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
The Pix Theatre 3rd Annual Gala
Over the last decade or so my hometown has been working on fixing up the downtown district. Our downtown is nothing big. The buildings are small and the shops are made up mostly of locally owned antique stores and restaurants and I believe the tallest building there is the library but it's quaint and I love it. Several condemned buildings have been torn down and replaced with grassy areas with murals while other older buildings received face lifts. Even the police station had a make over. It's actually exciting for me to see progress in a turbulent economic downturn.
One of my fondest memories was watching Back to the Future III at the downtown theater. I didn't notice at the time how rundown and old it was, I was too excited about seeing Michael J Fox save the present as he knew it from the evil clutches of Biff Tannen in all his various ages and generations. After that I went there only a handful of times before the building was finally condemned and Edwards took over the Treasure Valley. I hadn't thought about the old theater much since then until a foundation came to my work asking for help with their bookkeeping and taxes. They call themselves the Pix Theatre Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated in the restoration of an old condemned building where a little girl once watched Back to the Future III. The work they are doing will not only give downtown their theater back but also a venue where live performances and meals can be given. Over the last couple years we've built a relationship with the official members of the organization and have done work for them pro bono.
A few weeks ago they came into our office announcing their 3rd Annual Gala on October 24, a fund raising and awareness event with auctions, dinner, entertainment, and raffles. Since we've done so much work for them they wanted to give us a whole table of eight (cost of $800) and be VIP guests for the evening. They mentioned they were having trouble finding volunteers to help receive money for all the different money making portions of the evening and I immediately accepted the challenge for both my husband and myself. My mom (also my boss) said everyone who sat at our table would be happy to help. It was an exciting evening for me at least.
They had some really good fundraising ideas as well. The theme was Wizard of Oz and a local jewelry store donated a real ruby and emerald. Anyone who bought a wand (little dollar store plastic things) received a box which may or may not have the ruby or emerald enclosed inside. Those who didn't receive the precious stones got other jewelry like earrings and necklaces. There of course was a raffle for a beautiful quilt, a live auctions, a silent auction, and an online auction.
I live for these kinds of things. I don't like going to this stuff for the party, I always feel out of place and awkward. I love to work these events where I feel I have an excuse to interact with the guests and feel like I'm working toward a good cause. Something my hometown can be proud of.
One of my fondest memories was watching Back to the Future III at the downtown theater. I didn't notice at the time how rundown and old it was, I was too excited about seeing Michael J Fox save the present as he knew it from the evil clutches of Biff Tannen in all his various ages and generations. After that I went there only a handful of times before the building was finally condemned and Edwards took over the Treasure Valley. I hadn't thought about the old theater much since then until a foundation came to my work asking for help with their bookkeeping and taxes. They call themselves the Pix Theatre Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated in the restoration of an old condemned building where a little girl once watched Back to the Future III. The work they are doing will not only give downtown their theater back but also a venue where live performances and meals can be given. Over the last couple years we've built a relationship with the official members of the organization and have done work for them pro bono.
A few weeks ago they came into our office announcing their 3rd Annual Gala on October 24, a fund raising and awareness event with auctions, dinner, entertainment, and raffles. Since we've done so much work for them they wanted to give us a whole table of eight (cost of $800) and be VIP guests for the evening. They mentioned they were having trouble finding volunteers to help receive money for all the different money making portions of the evening and I immediately accepted the challenge for both my husband and myself. My mom (also my boss) said everyone who sat at our table would be happy to help. It was an exciting evening for me at least.
They had some really good fundraising ideas as well. The theme was Wizard of Oz and a local jewelry store donated a real ruby and emerald. Anyone who bought a wand (little dollar store plastic things) received a box which may or may not have the ruby or emerald enclosed inside. Those who didn't receive the precious stones got other jewelry like earrings and necklaces. There of course was a raffle for a beautiful quilt, a live auctions, a silent auction, and an online auction.
I live for these kinds of things. I don't like going to this stuff for the party, I always feel out of place and awkward. I love to work these events where I feel I have an excuse to interact with the guests and feel like I'm working toward a good cause. Something my hometown can be proud of.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Underwhelming the Overwhelming
I have a brother two years younger than me. This worked out perfectly for us when we decided to serve a mission for our church. I stayed in the states serving in the CRM and he went abroad to teach the people of France the restored gospel. Our experiences as missionaries were very different but the unity we felt knowing we were serving our Savior is His work created a bond between us that will never fade.
Our lives after the mission have reflected our mission as we both work toward similiar goals in different ways. We both are attending college but he goes to Rexburge and I attend BSU. I'm now married with kids and he is dating a lovely girl we just met this weekend.
Which brings me to the purpose of my post.
MY BROTHER BROUGHT A GIRL HOME TO MEET THE FAMILY!!
Needless to say we were all very excited. My dad's birthday was on Wednesday which just happened to be the same day as the Boise State football game between Tulsa. We've developed a tradition to go to my parents house to watch the Boise State games (GO BRONCOS!) and eat Klondik bars in the 3rd quarter. While watching the game we received a text from my brother saying he was bringing the girlfriend of 1 month home!
Well after the shock passed we started to panic just a little. First off, the reason Nick was coming home was to celebrate Dad's birthday on Sunday (big family dinner) AND to go golfing on Saturday morning. The poor girl was going to be alone with us for half a day. That's a lot of boyfriend family to take in on the first trip out. So we (the girls) started planning what activities we would do in hopes to not overwhelm the poor girl.
I'm happy to say though she did just fine. Despite being so young (19) she's, as my mother puts it, "Lovely." She's funny, sweet, interested, and most importantly interesting. Flash teased her unmercifully and she handled it very well which gives her a pass in my book. He certaintly can be overwhelming for those unused to his kind of teasing attention.
We all hope this will be a lasting relationship but you know it's only been a month... ;)
Our lives after the mission have reflected our mission as we both work toward similiar goals in different ways. We both are attending college but he goes to Rexburge and I attend BSU. I'm now married with kids and he is dating a lovely girl we just met this weekend.
Which brings me to the purpose of my post.
MY BROTHER BROUGHT A GIRL HOME TO MEET THE FAMILY!!
Needless to say we were all very excited. My dad's birthday was on Wednesday which just happened to be the same day as the Boise State football game between Tulsa. We've developed a tradition to go to my parents house to watch the Boise State games (GO BRONCOS!) and eat Klondik bars in the 3rd quarter. While watching the game we received a text from my brother saying he was bringing the girlfriend of 1 month home!
Well after the shock passed we started to panic just a little. First off, the reason Nick was coming home was to celebrate Dad's birthday on Sunday (big family dinner) AND to go golfing on Saturday morning. The poor girl was going to be alone with us for half a day. That's a lot of boyfriend family to take in on the first trip out. So we (the girls) started planning what activities we would do in hopes to not overwhelm the poor girl.
I'm happy to say though she did just fine. Despite being so young (19) she's, as my mother puts it, "Lovely." She's funny, sweet, interested, and most importantly interesting. Flash teased her unmercifully and she handled it very well which gives her a pass in my book. He certaintly can be overwhelming for those unused to his kind of teasing attention.
We all hope this will be a lasting relationship but you know it's only been a month... ;)
Sunday, October 11, 2009
An Ill Favored Week
I'm sick, Mini Flash is sick, and Tweeters is sick. Poor Mini Flash is the sickest of us. Tweeters and I just had a head cold and recovering nicely. But Mini Flash can't keep anything down and visits the bathroom a lot. So no church for us today. Right now we are watching Monster vs. Aliens...for the fourth time...this weekend....yeah....
Other than that our week has gone smoothly. I've got a couple of school projects I need to complete by December. Last year I was busy preparing Tweeters arrival and asked for Incomplete in my Argumentative Writing and On-screen Print Documentation classes. Part of my Argumentative Writing class requires a submitted portfolio of 30 pages showing my development has a critical thinker. I wanted to focus on online gaming addictions but may turn into a comparison between chemical addictions and emotional addictions. I've also decided to take a subject from the news everyday and write an argument either for or against it. That part of the project started yesterday but I learned quite a bit about how people get nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Other than that our week has gone smoothly. I've got a couple of school projects I need to complete by December. Last year I was busy preparing Tweeters arrival and asked for Incomplete in my Argumentative Writing and On-screen Print Documentation classes. Part of my Argumentative Writing class requires a submitted portfolio of 30 pages showing my development has a critical thinker. I wanted to focus on online gaming addictions but may turn into a comparison between chemical addictions and emotional addictions. I've also decided to take a subject from the news everyday and write an argument either for or against it. That part of the project started yesterday but I learned quite a bit about how people get nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Sunday, October 04, 2009
Spiritually Invigorated
For the past month I've been thinking about my relationship with Heavenly Father and how much I miss the feeling of being close to Him and the promptings of the Holy Ghost like I had on my mission. As I've cleaned my house and organized the decorations I realized a pattern developing in a little corner of my living room I hadn't intended.
In that corner you'll find pictures of Christ, our Family Home Evening assignment board I FINALLY put together, our family Book of Mormon, Preach My Gospel, a book of the first 100 temples, and the last couple issues of the Ensign. Some of the things have been there since we moved in, others were put there because there was no room any where else. As I was sitting there looking at the corner and thinking about getting an updated picture of the First Presidency and noticed a space where the framed picture would fit perfectly it dawned on me that I had created a little nook that represented all my faith and convictions.
Then there was my visiting teachers. They came by and shared the Septembers Ensign explaining how we need to be rooted in a firm foundation of the gospel. A timely message for me. A friend of mine asked me to join her and another girlfriend to Deseret Book during the priesthood session on Saturday for prizes and sales. As I walked around I discovered a Primary Edition of trivia cards for half the normal price. I snatched them up hoping to use them for family home evening. Later at McDonald's we challenged each other by not only asking for the answer to the questions but the reference. I was surprised and dismayed when I couldn't remember what chapter Christ visited the Nephits! A return missionary should never have to admit that!
So then came conference. I challenged myself by playing scripture chase. Whenever I heard anything that sounded like a scripture or a story from our standard works I raced to find it the reference. I am rusty but I was pleased when I found an especially hard one Ezek. 11:19 because I had never heard it before.
So Friday was an educationally and physically uplifting day that opened my weekend to being spiritually invigorated.
In that corner you'll find pictures of Christ, our Family Home Evening assignment board I FINALLY put together, our family Book of Mormon, Preach My Gospel, a book of the first 100 temples, and the last couple issues of the Ensign. Some of the things have been there since we moved in, others were put there because there was no room any where else. As I was sitting there looking at the corner and thinking about getting an updated picture of the First Presidency and noticed a space where the framed picture would fit perfectly it dawned on me that I had created a little nook that represented all my faith and convictions.
Then there was my visiting teachers. They came by and shared the Septembers Ensign explaining how we need to be rooted in a firm foundation of the gospel. A timely message for me. A friend of mine asked me to join her and another girlfriend to Deseret Book during the priesthood session on Saturday for prizes and sales. As I walked around I discovered a Primary Edition of trivia cards for half the normal price. I snatched them up hoping to use them for family home evening. Later at McDonald's we challenged each other by not only asking for the answer to the questions but the reference. I was surprised and dismayed when I couldn't remember what chapter Christ visited the Nephits! A return missionary should never have to admit that!
So then came conference. I challenged myself by playing scripture chase. Whenever I heard anything that sounded like a scripture or a story from our standard works I raced to find it the reference. I am rusty but I was pleased when I found an especially hard one Ezek. 11:19 because I had never heard it before.
So Friday was an educationally and physically uplifting day that opened my weekend to being spiritually invigorated.
Friday, October 02, 2009
Invigorated
I went for a walk today with Tweeter's down to a park not far from our house. I remember lamenting as I left my house that I forgot my iPod but I was too lazy to go back and get it. I didn't want to waste time looking for my headphones since I haven't used them in a few weeks. Halfway to the park I realized how blessed I am to be lazy at times because I almost missed listening to my daughter explain the mysteries of the universe.
Other random thoughts as I walked:
- Since Direct TV doesn't pull wire through houses when they put up those ugly dishes Flash should make a business of putting the wire in the house before the actual installation of the dish. That way people won't have an ugly dish and ugly wire.
- I need to buy a digital recorder to record my random thoughts because some of them are really good.
- I never believed walking was exersizing until today. I was always a strong believer in running. "How could walking really help you lose weight and get in shape?" I always questioned. You need good hard workouts with lots of sweat to achieve optimal weight loss. But my legs really hurt right now man. I wonder if that means I really out of shape.
- I wonder if my phone has a digital recorder. Wait, no it has a video recorder and it only lasts for thirty seconds. Wow do I really talk that much to need something lasting longer than thirty seconds?
Those are just to name a few.
Other random thoughts as I walked:
- Since Direct TV doesn't pull wire through houses when they put up those ugly dishes Flash should make a business of putting the wire in the house before the actual installation of the dish. That way people won't have an ugly dish and ugly wire.
- I need to buy a digital recorder to record my random thoughts because some of them are really good.
- I never believed walking was exersizing until today. I was always a strong believer in running. "How could walking really help you lose weight and get in shape?" I always questioned. You need good hard workouts with lots of sweat to achieve optimal weight loss. But my legs really hurt right now man. I wonder if that means I really out of shape.
- I wonder if my phone has a digital recorder. Wait, no it has a video recorder and it only lasts for thirty seconds. Wow do I really talk that much to need something lasting longer than thirty seconds?
Those are just to name a few.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Extra Mom Week
Last week was what I call the "Extra Mom Week." Occasionally, I get to exercise the parts of my mom muscles that usually lay dormant. Mini Flash (I know he wanted to be called Speed but I just can't) stayed with us for a week and a half. Usually we only get him Friday night and send him off to school Monday morning but his brother needed surgery last week (non-life threatening and he got through it fine) and bio-mom asked us to keep Mini Flash during the recovery time.
My mom muscles got worked over by having a full time elementary student in the home. My days at work started later and ended earlier and my house actually got cleaned on a regular basis because I was focused and not tired from work. It gave me a glimpse of what it'll be like when my littler ones get to elementary age and frankly I liked it. The only issue, less work hours equals less money. I've got at least five years to figure that out.
The highlights: watched Flash relish his time with Mini Flash doing homework. Helped Mini Flash dust around the living room and he actually LIKED it! When I picked Mini Flash up from school he grabbed my hand rubbed it against his face and said, "I love you mom."
Yeah I think it'd do that all over again in a heart beat.
My mom muscles got worked over by having a full time elementary student in the home. My days at work started later and ended earlier and my house actually got cleaned on a regular basis because I was focused and not tired from work. It gave me a glimpse of what it'll be like when my littler ones get to elementary age and frankly I liked it. The only issue, less work hours equals less money. I've got at least five years to figure that out.
The highlights: watched Flash relish his time with Mini Flash doing homework. Helped Mini Flash dust around the living room and he actually LIKED it! When I picked Mini Flash up from school he grabbed my hand rubbed it against his face and said, "I love you mom."
Yeah I think it'd do that all over again in a heart beat.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Zebra Cakes!
Saturday I was dying to get out of the house and I got a hold of one of my girlfriend's who was just as excited to do something fun. Her mom took her daughter and my kids went to bed while Flash stayed home watching football and we went out at 9:30pm. We were both exhausted and the night life around here consists of movies and bars. Neither of which we were interested in doing. We made do by getting zebra cakes and zingers from Wal Mart and headed to the local movie joint where "beach" volleyball was being played by nice looking single men (the junk food was for me, the single men was for my friend). Where we sat next to the water fountain to eat and talk.
GameWorld is right next to the movie theater and we had a great time playing air hockey, basketball, and skeeball. We walked around the little shopping area where we disovered Artist for a Day is open until 11:00pm on Saturday and tucked that bit of knowledge away for another Saturday together. We went back to my place to watch the rain fall on my sunroof and watch the lightening flash across the sky until 1:30am talking and laughing. It was a simple and unplanned but awesome girl time!
GameWorld is right next to the movie theater and we had a great time playing air hockey, basketball, and skeeball. We walked around the little shopping area where we disovered Artist for a Day is open until 11:00pm on Saturday and tucked that bit of knowledge away for another Saturday together. We went back to my place to watch the rain fall on my sunroof and watch the lightening flash across the sky until 1:30am talking and laughing. It was a simple and unplanned but awesome girl time!
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
My Husband's New Project
*Edit*
This has been done for a while but here are some progress pictures. We also have some scones where the holes are at next to the tv. He did a great job, no?
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Tuesday, May 19, 2009
I'm on the News!!
My work got interviewed for our unique business style but most importantly I'm famous! Check it out here.
Monday, May 18, 2009
So...Five Months
I married my sister off this weekend. It was a beautiful wedding and as one of my friends put it, "serene" which would be an extraordinarily accurate description. I'm sure my sister would disagree since she is as shy as a clam and not only had to say, "I do," in front of 30+ people (and not knowing who most of them are) but also wrote her own vows. She didn't' have them memorized and before walking down the isle kept saying to me, "I can only remember the first sentence of my vows." Luckily my new BIL had his written out as well and she didn't feel as stupid reading her as she lite the unity candle with him.
Of course no wedding would be a wedding without one major hick-up. Though in our family wedding dress drama is easily fixable and no bride-zilla's had to emerge but when you are a seamstress and say, "Bring the dress back a week before the wedding and we'll have it done in time," you don't put something like that on the back burner for another day. You get that sucker done! I guess no one told this seamstress the rules because after my brother picked up the dress and drove three hours to where the wedding would be held the next day we looked at the dress in horror and exclaim, "It hasn't been touched!"
Nope, no alterations were made after they swore it would be done, and mind you we went to them three weeks before the wedding and they told us to come back. My sister is six months pregnant so timing the alterations was key. The next day, hours before the wedding, my parents and sister left for a "near" by town (1 1/2 hours away) and find a shop to rent a dress, which ended up being more beautiful than her original dress. So all ended well.
Speed and I also had our little bit in the ceremony. Speed was the ring bearer and I was the maid of honor, though since I'm married I guess it's matron of honor but it makes me sound old. I got to give a little toast, we had cake, smoked salmon, chicken salad, fruits and veggies, and we all enjoyed a lovely cool spring wedding.
Congradulations Katy and Wil! I'm so happy for you!
Of course no wedding would be a wedding without one major hick-up. Though in our family wedding dress drama is easily fixable and no bride-zilla's had to emerge but when you are a seamstress and say, "Bring the dress back a week before the wedding and we'll have it done in time," you don't put something like that on the back burner for another day. You get that sucker done! I guess no one told this seamstress the rules because after my brother picked up the dress and drove three hours to where the wedding would be held the next day we looked at the dress in horror and exclaim, "It hasn't been touched!"
Nope, no alterations were made after they swore it would be done, and mind you we went to them three weeks before the wedding and they told us to come back. My sister is six months pregnant so timing the alterations was key. The next day, hours before the wedding, my parents and sister left for a "near" by town (1 1/2 hours away) and find a shop to rent a dress, which ended up being more beautiful than her original dress. So all ended well.
Speed and I also had our little bit in the ceremony. Speed was the ring bearer and I was the maid of honor, though since I'm married I guess it's matron of honor but it makes me sound old. I got to give a little toast, we had cake, smoked salmon, chicken salad, fruits and veggies, and we all enjoyed a lovely cool spring wedding.
Congradulations Katy and Wil! I'm so happy for you!
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Friday, November 28, 2008
Happy Turkey Day!
I know I'm a day late but I wanted to put up pictures with this post. This year our family decided to have Thanksgiving in McCall and it was probably one of the best ideas we've ever had. There's something about not having a big family dinner at your own house that makes one of the most stressful dinners of the year less stressful. Don't get me wrong we were all running around trying to figure out how to get everything done in time. We have three rooms complete with kitchen and dinning areas and we were moving furniture around, taking tables and chairs for other rooms to accommodate everyone in one place.
I think that's probably what it all boiled down to, we had three ovens and three convection/microwave ovens to cook everything and we didn't have to worry about cleaning the house to make it presentable for company since these places are already free of clutter.
My sister and her boyfriend showed up from Sun Valley just as dinner was ready and we had all three ovens cooking something. We recently found out they are pregnant! Yes my baby sister is having a baby! It's a good thing because this family needs more kids...I never realized how lacking our family was in the kid department until Speed came a long.
Everything turned out great except the pride of my mothers cooking...the gravy. There was a hole in the pan and all the yummy goodness dripped to the bottom of the oven causing much remorse in the gravy department. Nonetheless it was a wonderful dinner with all the trimmings and company we could possibly want.
I had an even cuter picture of my boys but it wouldn't load right
Grandma had curlers in her hair as she was helping Flash in Scrabble but she wouldn't let me take the picture until they were out :P
Speed adores my sister and has found a new friend in her boyfriend
My older brother with his girl
Some of the FNG's came up with us for the weekend
The Boys
They had to tell me to stop talking to take this pictures...I had no idea
Saturday, November 22, 2008
I'll be 34 weeks along next week and the doctor told me the baby's head has dropped. I'm not really sure what that means though my doctor thought it was significant. My mother says she should be arriving any day now. Though the idea of having LB (Lady Bug) is very exciting I hope she doesn't come until after December 18th. School will be officially out and I can focus just on having a new born in my life and not on all the projects I need to get done.
The last few months have been difficult. I've had a scare with the baby coming early when I was 24 weeks and had to go to the hospital...though it turned out everything was fine...it was still a possibility. Sleep has eluded me and I finally broke down and asked my doctor about sleeping pills. I've been diagnosed with gestational diabetes which means I have to watch my diet...something really difficult for me. It's a common fact that college students will eat anything just to get through the school day. I've over planned my budget with time trying to get everything done for everyone and prepare for the baby so having to plan my diet carefully has been a timing challenge.
In a couple of weeks it'll be all over and I've never been so grateful for Thanksgiving Break. My family and I are going up to McCall for Thanksgiving and I will be in charge of making the Big Meal since my mother will be less then able. She had surgery this Friday...nothing huge or life threatening but surgery all the same. Right now she's just trying to focus on recovery and therefore will not have the physical or mental aptitude to make a 12 lb turkey.
But though this semester has been difficult I have had some great experiences. I've gone to several football games with close friends of mine as well as family (Flash, Speed, my dad, and younger brother). I've had a baby shower and a Halloween Birthday Party both of which turned out very well. Most importantly I've been sealed to my husband...something I felt like was long waited for though afterwards it felt like no time had gone by at all. I've even been able to enjoy a few books, the whole Twilight Series actually and though I don't enjoy them nearly has much as the rest of the world seems too (I feel Edward has control issues and is a Drama King but Jacob isn't much better so I'm for King Jacob either) I find great joy in analysing them with my friends.
I've also enjoyed seeing my family grow closer together. I feel closer to Flash now then ever before and Speed has grown so much in school and church.
A difficult semester yes...thank goodness life hasn't stopped and as long as the good keeps coming I'll take the bad.
The last few months have been difficult. I've had a scare with the baby coming early when I was 24 weeks and had to go to the hospital...though it turned out everything was fine...it was still a possibility. Sleep has eluded me and I finally broke down and asked my doctor about sleeping pills. I've been diagnosed with gestational diabetes which means I have to watch my diet...something really difficult for me. It's a common fact that college students will eat anything just to get through the school day. I've over planned my budget with time trying to get everything done for everyone and prepare for the baby so having to plan my diet carefully has been a timing challenge.
In a couple of weeks it'll be all over and I've never been so grateful for Thanksgiving Break. My family and I are going up to McCall for Thanksgiving and I will be in charge of making the Big Meal since my mother will be less then able. She had surgery this Friday...nothing huge or life threatening but surgery all the same. Right now she's just trying to focus on recovery and therefore will not have the physical or mental aptitude to make a 12 lb turkey.
But though this semester has been difficult I have had some great experiences. I've gone to several football games with close friends of mine as well as family (Flash, Speed, my dad, and younger brother). I've had a baby shower and a Halloween Birthday Party both of which turned out very well. Most importantly I've been sealed to my husband...something I felt like was long waited for though afterwards it felt like no time had gone by at all. I've even been able to enjoy a few books, the whole Twilight Series actually and though I don't enjoy them nearly has much as the rest of the world seems too (I feel Edward has control issues and is a Drama King but Jacob isn't much better so I'm for King Jacob either) I find great joy in analysing them with my friends.
I've also enjoyed seeing my family grow closer together. I feel closer to Flash now then ever before and Speed has grown so much in school and church.
A difficult semester yes...thank goodness life hasn't stopped and as long as the good keeps coming I'll take the bad.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Getting Distracted
For one of my school projects I have to create an online help for a freeware program called PhotoScape, an digital editing program a lot like Photoshop but free. This means I get to test (a.k.a. "play with") the program to get a feel for what I should be writing.
It's really easy to get distracted. This is my lasted distraction:
It's really easy to get distracted. This is my lasted distraction:
Taking a Year
So I've decided to do something kinda scary and maybe no very well thought out....
I'm taking a year off school.
I only have a year left that's including 150 hours of internships I would be doing during the summer time. For the last year I've been married mine and Flash's goal was to get me out of school as soon as possible. This goal was meant to help enrich our family income and try to show the importance of education to our children but some how I just couldn't see myself going to school next year and here's why.
I'm having a little girl in January. Now even if I was able to make myself stay away from my little new born two nights a week (that's what my schedule would be next semester) and work my office schedule around both school and my little girl I cannot see how I would survive a 150 internship hours without her.
I'm incredibly lucky to have a job that allows me to have my children close by while I'm working, with a baby-sitter handy for those times I need a break. I'm fully aware that is unusual in this day in age where family and work is still separated. Though we have seen a evolution of jobs giving both mothers and fathers more time with their families outside of work, I have not only seen but experienced first hand how families and jobs can coexist and still be professional. Just a little less then the average work place....especially the average accounting place (that's the kind of work I do though that's not what I'm going to school for).
It's not uncommon to hear screaming babies, laughing children, and the pitter patter of little feet running around the office halls where I work at the same time financial consultation is taking place.
I don't want to give that up. Not as a new full time mom. I want to see my child while I'm at work and internships don't allow for that, school barely allows for that, and frankly I not only want to enjoy my first year with my baby but to solidify the bond that we are already sharing. Right now I'm the woman that is carrying her but I want to be the woman that raises her.
When that year is up my role will not be less important or less demanding but I will at least have had my chance before giving her up to someone else for 150 hours plus school time. Luckily many of my classes take place at night so she will be with her father.
I know what I'm doing is selfish and like I said before probably not well thought out but I just can't give her up yet.
There are a few other reasons like being able to focus on my work and moving up in the company a bit but really it's all about the baby.
I'm taking a year off school.
I only have a year left that's including 150 hours of internships I would be doing during the summer time. For the last year I've been married mine and Flash's goal was to get me out of school as soon as possible. This goal was meant to help enrich our family income and try to show the importance of education to our children but some how I just couldn't see myself going to school next year and here's why.
I'm having a little girl in January. Now even if I was able to make myself stay away from my little new born two nights a week (that's what my schedule would be next semester) and work my office schedule around both school and my little girl I cannot see how I would survive a 150 internship hours without her.
I'm incredibly lucky to have a job that allows me to have my children close by while I'm working, with a baby-sitter handy for those times I need a break. I'm fully aware that is unusual in this day in age where family and work is still separated. Though we have seen a evolution of jobs giving both mothers and fathers more time with their families outside of work, I have not only seen but experienced first hand how families and jobs can coexist and still be professional. Just a little less then the average work place....especially the average accounting place (that's the kind of work I do though that's not what I'm going to school for).
It's not uncommon to hear screaming babies, laughing children, and the pitter patter of little feet running around the office halls where I work at the same time financial consultation is taking place.
I don't want to give that up. Not as a new full time mom. I want to see my child while I'm at work and internships don't allow for that, school barely allows for that, and frankly I not only want to enjoy my first year with my baby but to solidify the bond that we are already sharing. Right now I'm the woman that is carrying her but I want to be the woman that raises her.
When that year is up my role will not be less important or less demanding but I will at least have had my chance before giving her up to someone else for 150 hours plus school time. Luckily many of my classes take place at night so she will be with her father.
I know what I'm doing is selfish and like I said before probably not well thought out but I just can't give her up yet.
There are a few other reasons like being able to focus on my work and moving up in the company a bit but really it's all about the baby.
Friday, October 31, 2008
It's not very comforting when the guy about to stick a needle in you says, "My fingers aren't working very well today" at 7:15 in the morning.
I'm at the hospital taking my second glucos test because sadly I failed my first by 7 points. This test involves three hours of waiting so I figured I do some blogging; especially since it's the last day of the month.
So far things have gone well though like my last post said I'm way to busy for my own good. A part of me is actually looking forward to the three hour wait because maybe I can get some serious work done. I've already tweaked one of my essays and I'll be working on the templates for the website I'm developing as well. I guess being forced to get up and be alert isn't too bad.
This last week MiniFlash now called Speed - he wanted his nickname to be something cool and has recently feel in love with Speed Racer the movie - got to spend almost a whole week with us. It was my turn to see what it's like to be the time-to-get-ready-for-school mom and I think I did pretty well all things concerned. I had to change my schedule at work and missed some classes but I think if it came down to it I could very easily do this every day - minus the missing classes of course. But I won't be a student forever.
And I won't be this darn busy forever either.
Today is Halloween and one of my girlfriends and I are having a combined birthday party. My birthday isn't for another month and her's was a month ago but there's a running joke that we are twins and so we decided to have a little fun on Halloween this year. Flash and I already have our costumes picked out. There will be pictures and a post following this one telling you all about it.
I have a half an hour before my next needle poking session and I should probably work on that essay.
I'm at the hospital taking my second glucos test because sadly I failed my first by 7 points. This test involves three hours of waiting so I figured I do some blogging; especially since it's the last day of the month.
So far things have gone well though like my last post said I'm way to busy for my own good. A part of me is actually looking forward to the three hour wait because maybe I can get some serious work done. I've already tweaked one of my essays and I'll be working on the templates for the website I'm developing as well. I guess being forced to get up and be alert isn't too bad.
This last week MiniFlash now called Speed - he wanted his nickname to be something cool and has recently feel in love with Speed Racer the movie - got to spend almost a whole week with us. It was my turn to see what it's like to be the time-to-get-ready-for-school mom and I think I did pretty well all things concerned. I had to change my schedule at work and missed some classes but I think if it came down to it I could very easily do this every day - minus the missing classes of course. But I won't be a student forever.
And I won't be this darn busy forever either.
Today is Halloween and one of my girlfriends and I are having a combined birthday party. My birthday isn't for another month and her's was a month ago but there's a running joke that we are twins and so we decided to have a little fun on Halloween this year. Flash and I already have our costumes picked out. There will be pictures and a post following this one telling you all about it.
I have a half an hour before my next needle poking session and I should probably work on that essay.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
I Never Want to Be this Busy Again
You know you're too busy when the thought of "getting ready" for the day makes you cringe. And I'm not even talking about shaving, putting on make-up, blowing drying your hair, and wearing a nice outfit - you know the flawless look.
No I'm talking about simply taking a shower. When did my life get so crazy that the thought of needing to be clean even every other day was no longer a necessity?
At least my teeth hasn't suffered....yet.
No I'm talking about simply taking a shower. When did my life get so crazy that the thought of needing to be clean even every other day was no longer a necessity?
At least my teeth hasn't suffered....yet.
Sunday, October 05, 2008
From a Year to Eternity
On September 27th Flash and I were sealed together in the Boise, Idaho Temple. The year of anxious waiting melted away as we knelt across the alter together early that Saturday morning promising ourselves to each other for eternity.When my alarm clock went off at 5:15 that morning my baby began moving with excitment feeling much like popcorn within my belly as if to say, "Get up! Get up! Get up! We're getting sealed as a family today!" She has never made movement like that during my pregnancy and I knew she was as eager as we were to join our family together.
The rites and ceremonies that took place that day were joyful and peaceful. The sealer's words rang true in my heart as he spoke of eternity, the resurrection, temple attendance, and love within families.
Here's a few pictures my mom took of our family and friends that came to celebrate this occasion with us:
MiniFlash and my in-laws Flash's mom, sister, and cousin
My family and a long time friend
My little brother and Flash, who is very excited to see my brother there
My parents who acted as escorts for us
One of my best friends parents who I'm very close to
FNG (Friday Night Girls)
MiniFlash's Grandpas
Family Picture
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Job Satisfaction
I have a great job and I find a lot of satisfaction in working for a company that strives to help protect the common man against the big bureaucratic machine that is the IRS. I'm aware there are very nice people who work at the IRS, my best friend's mom is one of them, but there is this big crevasse between the common American person and the IRS that needs to be bridged sometimes.
Which is where the company I work for comes in and it's highly satisfying to help people.
But then there are the clients that blame you for their $25,000 penalties when they don't file their taxes on time, who gives us less then the required amount of information needed to deliver their taxes on time, and who call every five minutes to make sure things get done on time even though they still are with holding information and blame you the whole way through the process if it doesn't get done correctly.
I understand we need to be a bridge for the gap between government and the common person but seriously whatever happened to taking responsibility for your own actions.
Needless to say everything was taken care of and then some but I was a little ruffled by the end of delivering the required documents and walked back to school for the rest of my days classes.
I was thinking about urgency and the line we need to draw with our clients when their urgency becomes irrational. As I mused about this I walked on to the bike path leading back to my campus when I found myself smiling and breathing in the wonderful smells of the foliage next to the river and realized it doesn't really matter. This bike path always does this too me and I found myself forgetting about the frustrating experience of human nature.
If only all jobs allowed you to travel to your happy place when you're feeling low and slightly disgruntled.
Which is where the company I work for comes in and it's highly satisfying to help people.
But then there are the clients that blame you for their $25,000 penalties when they don't file their taxes on time, who gives us less then the required amount of information needed to deliver their taxes on time, and who call every five minutes to make sure things get done on time even though they still are with holding information and blame you the whole way through the process if it doesn't get done correctly.
I understand we need to be a bridge for the gap between government and the common person but seriously whatever happened to taking responsibility for your own actions.
Needless to say everything was taken care of and then some but I was a little ruffled by the end of delivering the required documents and walked back to school for the rest of my days classes.
I was thinking about urgency and the line we need to draw with our clients when their urgency becomes irrational. As I mused about this I walked on to the bike path leading back to my campus when I found myself smiling and breathing in the wonderful smells of the foliage next to the river and realized it doesn't really matter. This bike path always does this too me and I found myself forgetting about the frustrating experience of human nature.
If only all jobs allowed you to travel to your happy place when you're feeling low and slightly disgruntled.
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