Motor Monday

Another full and rewarding day with 3 highlights: Ashley's first day of kindergarten, sorting files/papers with Derber and visiting the dept of MOTOR vehicles to renew my Drivers License :)

I was thrilled to get a chance to wish Ash well on her big day. She even made sure to give me a hug before she left. Sweet. Dressed in the outfit she'd had picked out for 2 weeks, (yep, she's related to me, all right!) Mom had some PTA stuff to do at school after dropping her off so I got to stay with Saige, the budding piano prodigy :)

Derber is an organizing mastermind! Seriously. I had stuff filed, but the files were FULL, not all of stuff I still needed. She helped me sort through 4 types of bills (utilities, power, etc) and pay stubs for the past 2-3 years. Totally added up :) Shredding all of it took me over an hour! She's also good at understanding the "logic" behind saving and tossing. In my case, it's "what if I need this paper some day???" Saige was happy to gnaw on old envelopes while her Mom and I worked :)

Then it was onto the DMV-not my favorite place to go, I'll admit. The lines, tests, etc. I was determined to go in and get out so I triple checked to make sure I had all the documentation I needed, my form was filled out correctly, etc. And there's the eye test.... Sometimes my eyes don't work perfectly "together" and so I tend to have anxiety about passing/failing the eye test. Today I readjusted the machine 4 times so I could see all 3 parts of the eye chart line, but..... I passed!!! Then I had to retake my new picture 3 times because I kept closing my eyes. Of course!

Toy Tuesday

Today I got to spend the day with Grace, as we affectionately refer to her (Princess Grace, Queen of the World, etc) LOVE this girl! We had fun eating gummi bears, swimming, reading books, eating lunch at Arctic Circle and playing on the playground there, watching Disney Channel and going to Savers where I bought her a couple of books. Because I'm the aunt and I can :)

Explanation of pictures: Grace with towel, "Look I'm an angel!" and Grace "swimming" with arms in motion. A picture of her with a book on her head because she said, "Take a picture of me with a book on my head!" OK :)

Some funny things she said: Reading an ABC book and seeing pictures of "daffodil/D" and "pansy/P" And her saying, that's not a Daffodil/Pansy! It's a FLOWER!!!" And a quilt was a "blanket." While at Arctic Circle she busied herself playing with the toy steering wheel and she told me, "This boat is going to Las Vegas. But you can't go. Only little people can go to Las Vegas." Love you, Grace!!!!

Single Sunday

Today marked a significant day for me. My last day in a singles ward! Ever since I got back from Taiwan 4 yrs ago I have been attending the singles ward. Technically I don't turn 31 till mid-October but with a new school year, it just seemed like a good time to make a change, rather than waiting for 6-7 more weeks.

It was a day full of such sweet memories, that I could not have anticipated. I didn't tell many people I was leaving, I didn't want a fuss. The only person I deliberately told was the bishop. When I got to church though, the other members of the bishopric asked me if the "rumors were true" Yep. I did make it a point to say goodbye to the bishop's wife after RS though, we've had a lot of talks, visits and they've had dinner with me and my parents in preparation for their son's mission in the Philippines. Very positive relationships for which I am grateful!

However, I made the bishop's wife cry so when I caught the bishop between Sunday School and Sacrament Mtg I said something along the lines of, "Bishop-I made your wife cry but I didn't mean to! Sorry!"

At some point I was hoping to have a chance to share my thoughts, etc with my ward members and I think praying for such an opportunity. So I had a few thoughts in the back of my mind when the bishop said, "We don't do this very often, we should, but Heather's been in this ward longer than I have. (true) Would you like to bear your testimony?" Of course I did!

That morning I told Kelsey I didnt' think I'd cry, I felt at peace, ready to move on, etc. Yeah, I totally lied about the crying part! There was speaker and a congregational hymn (that I was leading) before it was my turn to speak and I was gulping and blinking back tears. NOT because I was sad to go, afraid to change, etc. but just because my heart felt SO full! Memories of kind words from ward members, friends, visiting teaching, callings, ward activities, fun, laughs, love, etc. Hence why the first thing I said when I got up to the pulpit "I don't that I've ever cried at this pulpit (I usually smile brightly) before but today could be the exception." The tears only lasted for about 30 seconds though......

While bearing testimony to the trutfulness of the gospel I talked about a favorite scripture, D&C 58:3-4. "You cannot behold with your natural eyes all the blessings.....which shall follow after tribulation." (condensed version) The point was not that changing wards is a tribulation but that it is a change and change is OK! I also wanted to share that I did have fears, concerns, etc about this new phase in the past, so for those who had similar feelings, it is/was OK! It's part of being human. I talked about while i have a great life it is SO not what I planned on, but it's OK and I'm "embracing" this new phase because we can put our faith and trust in God and have joy.

Being able to share these thoughts/feelings with others, including some of my dearest friends was such a tremendous opportunity and blessing!!! And all the kind words after, feelings, etc. really made me think that perhaps I done good in the ward, helped someone, made them smile, let them know I cared, served faithfully, etc. And in return, I felt SO loved. Unlike anything I have experienced before.

Exiting with a full heart while embracing the future!!!!

Sunrise Saturday

This past Friday and Saturday I had the opportunity to hike Mt Timp with Kerri and Olivia. It was mine and Kerri's 2nd time, Olivia's first. However.... it was the first time for all of us to do it in the middle of the night! It was a true adventure but one I am SO glad I didn't miss.

A 14 mile hike has its own challenges, but for me, the biggest challenges was the large patches of snow! Yes, snow, At the end of August. I slipped and fell on my bottom in the snow. 4 times, actually. So we took pictures, at my encouragment.

The views were fantastic. The waterfalls, the wildflower fields (see below) crammed with color. An unobstructed view of the sunrise. The sky changing colors so fast that you didn't want to look away for too long for fear of missing it! I brought first aid supplies and Kerri and Olivia totally rocked with the snacks!!! Homemade trail mix, apple slices, jerky, gummy bears, fiber one bars- thanks friends!!!! I brought the first aid supplies which thankfully we didn't need :)

Here I am setting out, around 11:30 pm on Friday. With my water backpack (that was leaking but Kerri found the leak and fixed it, many thanks), headlamp, sweatshirt. Water backpack and headlamp were birthday and Christmas gifts from Kerri, respectively.

Enjoy the other pics of the wildflower fields, views, sunrise, Olivia and Kerri, hardcore hikers, and the "take that timp!" pistol picture.

New #2

Keeping in line with my latest goal.... (see previous post) Here are my latest "new"s

-climb Mt Timp in the night to see the sunrise. Awesome! This may very well be a one-time experience but I'm SO glad I had it!

-going to see a play with my friend Amy Jensen, put on by Westminster. It was called "Making Waves" and it was all about vignettes of real life teaching stories. More about this play later but I came home refreshed, renewed and proud to be a teacher! Just in time for the new school year to start......

Try it on Thursday

As previously mentioned, last night I gave some clothes to Derber to see if she wanted them. Some shirts, a couple of dresses. It is a well known fact that Ashley LOVES clothes. Any kind of clothes, any style, anytime. She loves to try on clothes whether it's Saige's baby clothes (yes, she really can get them on!) on grown-up clothes.

As we left the house last night, I joked to my Mom, "Who will be the first to try on the clothes? Derber or Ashley?" Well, I got a call mid-morning from Derber-guess who was trying on the clothes?!?! Not her!!!! Though my clothes were recieved appropriately with oohs and aahs...... :)
Love you, Ash!!!!

Tonight I stayed at my parents house, took a nap (a day of training at work had wore me out) then woke up and took a walk with my Mom. Funny, she didn't do anything to wake me up, she was standing in front of my bed trying to decide how to wake me (so I didnt' sleep too long and be up all night) when I sensed soemeone was there and opened my eyes.....

Anyway-then we went for a walk, went past Derber's again, shared some chocolate and vanilla ice cream. Yep, food is a big part of my everyday life. I like the memories it creates!

Windy Wednesday

Tonight I had the chance to go with my Mom to her ward's Relief Society Summer potluck. I jump at any chance to with her to her Relief Society activities. A lot of the ladies still there have known me since I was born and so I feel very much at "home" there. And it was held in my Aunt Paula/Uncle Russell's backyard, a place I feel very much at home, anyway!

Back to the wind, it was windy and drizzling so much that it looked like it was going to be called off but the sun pulled through just in time.....

Could not even come close to picking a favorite potluck item-but the smell when I entered the backyard....... AMAZING. I remember there was some sort of a tuna salad that was very tasty (I'm always impressed when someone can make tuna "tasty") Mom's striped "heirloom" tomatoes created quite a buzz, seeing tomatoes like that! We sat at the table with among other people a faithful Presbytirian who came with her neighbor! She was as delightful as they come and I was in awe of the Mormon neighbor that brought her and took such good care of her. Anytime anyone passed by she would say, "Have you met so and so, yet???"

After the potluck Mom and I went to the library-I'm trying to expand my "mind" and read all kinds of books, "good books" that make me think, but I did get one of my standby favorites, "culinary mystery" That and historical fiction are my favorites.

Then we stopped by Deborah (derber)'s house so I could give her some clothes I cleaned out from my closet, to see if she wanted them. When we approached the house-the car was there, lights were on inside, but no answer..... So after a couple of minutes of knocking and then wantint to make sure she was OK, we let ourselves in. The door was unlocked, it's not like we have a lock-picking kit or anything.... :) She was there just putting Ashley to bed. We visited it was fun, I went to bed happy. Glad to have been able to spend so much time with the one's I love :)