What's Next?????

I really do have an awesome graduation post coming but I'm still trying get pics from others cameras so until then, here are my summer plans, per request.....

Enjoying one of these (a graduation gift from the the folks) so that I can train for and do another one of these- Days of 47 10k. I was hoping for another 1/2 marathon but they don't offer it. Oh, well......

Doing more of this, for pleasure, not for school!!!!

Buying a new one of these so that I can record better pics and videos of time spent with people like them......

Other notes.... I have a month long internship working in the early intervention field during June, then I'll be working the same job for last summer doing respite care for a child with autism. I've grown really close to the family (Mom and Dad are close to my age and there's 5 kids) and I'm really looking forward to it!

Come fall I'll be back working at my current school, I love what I do and also I'm currently debt free and since my employer helped pay for my tuition this past year i have a time commitment and I don't really want to to go into debt by changing jobs.......

One of the things that I most excited about is writing about my experiences of living with a brain injury. I've done some before but ths time I am doing it with the support of and affiliated with my dr and his practice. I will have some posts to show soon..... It's a tremendous opportunity
and something I really care about.... Be watching for me to send you the new blog address!!!

And to directly and succintly answer the question "What are you going to do now?" Whatever I want!!!!!!

And a HUGE thank you for all those who have given me love and support/excitement in the past few weeks/post graduation via text, facebook message, cards, etc. There have been so many times when I feel SO loved by your kind words!!!! Thank you!!!!!!

Feelings Are......

Happiness is...... Waking up on a Saturday morning with NO thoughts of homework!!!
Success is...... Graduation!!!!
Endearing is....... My 4 yr old niece Ashley wanting to know when she can play the violin like Itzak Perlman- world class, fantastic violinist....
Beautifulness is...... seeing my spinach plants thrive

Touching is....... my 10 yr old twin nephews inviting me to their birthday party (A Bee's Game on Friday)
Relaxing is....... reading books solely for pleasure (Currently my favorite genre is culinary mysteries)
Pleasantness is..... listening to my Mom's Salt Lake Symphony Concert- Swing Music Theme!!!!!
Deliciousness is......... Eating my Mom's homemade rhubarb pudding. I don't know if anyone else make rhubarb pudding but hers is still the best!!!!!
Funnyness is- remembering late last night that there was a ward dinner today, getting up early to make cookies, only to get to church and discover I was supposed to bring chips instead........

More to come as soon as I can think of them....... I'm kind of a fan of this type of post......!!!!!

Salt Lake Children's Choir

One of the definite Highlights from this weekend was participating in the Salt Lake Children's Choir Alumni Choir as part of this weekend's 30th anniversary concert.
The choir and the Litster family go way back......

The director, Ralph B. Woodward, used to live in parent's ward when I was born. He lamented that there were no quality children choirs around and so he started his own. My two oldest sisters, Melanie and Jennifer were part of the first choir and concert. Since it was so new, funds were tight, and so instead of the white robe/shirts they wear today they wore their father's white dress shirts buttoned up and backwards. But the sound was fantastic!!!!
NOTE here- children in the choir start as young as 8 years old, how many 8 year olds do you know that can even sit still for a 90 minute rehearsal and for a concert, yet sing beautifully. Do a lot of 8 year olds come to mind???? Didn't think so......

In the past 30 years, all of my parents 7 children have been in the choir, 3 of my cousins, 1 of my nieces. It is truly a family affair.
Being in the choir gave me some fantastic opportunities: I got to perform in Abravanel Hall, Cathedral of the Madeline, sing for the Governer and Salt Lake City Mayor, at my elementary school, perform on tv with artists such as Kurt Bestor and Pete Seeger, record a cd, and more, all in just 8 years!!!!

I also made some great friends, got exposed to beautiful, classical music in a variety of languages from French to Spanish to Russian, etc. But I think perhaps most importantly it gave me a valuable connection to events and people that helped me navigate through me teen years. Even though I may not have been popular at school, had poor athletic coordination, etc. I still had a connection and tremendous opportunities. What every teen needs......

Here's to the SLCC!!!! check out the website at www.childrensing.com

Weekend Highlights

This weekend was FANTASTIC!
Beginning with Friday morning, here are the highlights......

• Slept in, didn't have to be at work until ten
• Got paid for an 8 hr workday but only had to "work" by attending a 3 hr work party
• Had a catered BBQ lunch
• Visited with lots of work friends at the party
• Had my favorite hygenist at the dentist office
• NO CAVITIES!!!!!!
• Had dinner with friends at Lonestar Taqueria to celebrate my recent graduation
• Able to reunite with friends I haven't seen in awhile
• Got a fabulous hand painted picture from a dear friend
• My pork burrito was incredibly good and I didn't even spill anything like I usually do :)
• Saw "Letters to Juliet" loved it!!!!
• Enjoyed some frozen yogurt at my favorite place, "The Yogurt Stop" I totally reccomend this place.....
• Had 4 kinds of frozen yogurt and 10 different toppings- there were just too many to chose from and you pay by the ounce so.........
• Had good hair days
• Since I had no homework I had time to watch a BYU/UT softball game
• Got a 2 hr nap
• Met up with old friend at the Salt Lake Children's Choir Alumni Choir rehearsal
• Got a hug from my nephew in public
• Got compliments on my pink purse and shoes at the concert
• Met up with more old friends at the concert
• My mom got a great parking spot for the concert
• My mom came to hear me sing- she never misses anything, thanks Mom!!!!
• Concert was fantastic (more about this in a later blog post)
• Enjoyed milk shakes with Mom after the concert (mine was the peanut butter cup variety)

Life makes me smile....... How was your weekend?????

How Sweet it Is......

Yesterday morning I was on TRAX going downtown, there was a group of Boy Scouts on the train as well. All of sudden, a very handsome 12 yr old boy calls out "Heather!" comes running up to me, and gives me a big hug. My nephew Bennett was the handsome, almost 13 year old who gave me the hug and then proceeded to introduce me in front of all his friends.

OK- seriously, when your near-teenage nephew gives you a hug introduces you in front of all his friends, how sweet is that????? Love you Bennett!!!!

For My Nieces

There are a myriad of reasons why I went into the Special Education Master's Degree Program- and I am working on post to give that in more detail, I REALLY hope to get to it before graduation on Friday. We'll see.......

But for now, my motivation, and what I think about as I see myself crossing the stage on Friday, is my nieces. I have a great life and I am extremely blessed to be in such a good position financially, spiritiualy, emotionally, education-ly, healthy, etc. I have no regrets!

However...... I basically broke the family mold. My sisters all went to college, met husbands, got married, and graduated either/and/or married, engaged, pregnant or with a child. I.... have not, will not have that kind of experience. And yet I would be lying if I said that there wasn't satisifcation in doing something that none of my siblings have done, being the first makes it kinda fun.

Life is great, but you never know what is around the corner. Maybe my nieces will meet and marry young. Maybe not. Either way they have my full love and support. But maybe they will be in my position, being done with school, still single, needing to make decisions about how to create a great life for themselves, to be the family "breadwinner." Maybe they could take comfort in knowing that someone else has been in that position before. Maybe there will be a benefit to them because of my experiences.

So..... when I hear my name called on Friday and I walk across the stage,..... Annie, Sara, Lexi, Jessica, Katie, Grace, Allie, Sadie, Madeline, Lauren, Emma, Cora, Ashley..... I love you all, collectively and individually, lots and always!!! And this one's for you!!!!!!

Brain Cells at Work

So, now that I have finished grad school and rejoined the human race- it also means that I can start blogging again! Yeah!!!! It also means that I will hopefully have topics to blog about other than my preschoolers, as cute as they are........

For anyone who is still interested in my life after my 3+ month blogging hiatus- here is the latest............
For the completion of my master's degree, I was not required to do a formal thesis, but still had to do a formal presenation where I talk to 3 professors for 45 minutes, then I leave the room and they decide whether or not to pass me.

My topic was "Supporting children with Brain Injury in the Preschool Classroom" a topic that I am passionate about professionally and personally, so it made it more motivating to prepare and less stressful to present.

So, I came, I presented, they asked questions, then I went out into the hall for what was ten minutes but felt like 100 minutes.... and....... I passed!!!!!!!!!!! Not only did I pass, I passed big!!!!! My professors liked my presentation so much that they want me to give it to classes they are teaching this summer, seriously how cool is that?????

I am grateful for many things. I am grateful that I passed, I am grateful that I can get more mileage out of my presenation, I'm grateful that it all went off without any problems, and I'm grateful that my sister and niece (Deborah and Ashley) were there waiting for me and we all went to Costa Vida afterwards.

It was a very happy day........