Mother's Day

Due to it being past Mother's Day I know that I am too late! However, that still doesn't mean that I am not grateful for my angel mother!! And so I have made a list to acknowledge the wonderful gifts and talents that are hers....

Her love of gardening: She has always had plants around her, and they flourish!! I would have plants in college that would start to fade and look so sick, and all I would have to do is bring it home and viola, they flourish too! I think they just needed her special TLC. She is always gardening and nurturing little starts into thriving plants. Whenever we would walk pass a plant, she could tell me the name. Truly a talent. I believe she got her love of flowers from her mother, Norma Neibaur and grandma, Mabel Belnap. Her favorite flower, I think, are Peonies. She also loves Bleeding Hearts, which were Grandma Belnap's favorite too.

Her love for art:This amazing woman can paint! It is true! And not only does she do a good job in the opinions of loved ones, but she has won blue ribbons at fairs. They are all beautifully done. My favorite one is the painting of a ship that has wrecked with fog all around it. The detail is amazing and it won many ribbons. I only wish that she would keep it going. The poor girl is so busy, that she rarely has time, which is sad cause there is definately talent there.

Her love for music:She is an amazing pianist and organist. She is too modest to say so, but she is. She has held many callings that require her to play in Sacrament meetings as well as other church meetings. She has even had to play impromptu, and can pass off smashingly! She loves listening to music as she works in the home. One of her favorites is "Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini" by Rachmaninoff. Many of you will know this from the theme song of "Somewhere in Time".
One of her favorite hymns is "Where Can I Turn For Peace", because it was one of the answers to her prayers.

Her hard working ethics: No matter what she does, she always tries to do her best. Whether it be work, art, sewing, callings. As to work, her boss absolutely loves her! She is always honest and hardworking, with the ability to do what the other men do, and most of the time better. She is his right hand. Sewing, I remember taking 4-H and of course she was my teacher. She would make me unpick seam after seam to make sure I did a great job. This annoyed me alot, and we would spend hours on my project, with me complaining, and her faithfully pressing, pinning, and unpicking endlessly without complaint. It is because of her that I feel confident enough to make dresses and projects without sweating too much! But I often wish I had my seam picker!! Callings, she has always tried to plan fun activities to help people learn and grow. In fact, a pet peeve of hers, (if I may share it!), is when she helps to plan an activity and people don't have any enthusiasm and do a mediocre job when it could have been so much better.

Her love of learning: She loves to learn about history, gardening, health, arts, literature, ect. In fact, it is because of her that I absolutely love to learn about George Washington or the Revolutionary War, go to musicals, or to enjoy architecture. She is my play buddy, and we always try to go to at least one a year. Also we have read a few books together. My last few years in high school, she would drive me to school and then head straight to work. We would read books on the drive there (which was easily fifteen min). We would be laughing one second, and balling our eyes out the next, even to the point when I couldn't read aloud anymore!! Ah, the memories! Health, she shares her knowledge about vitamins, exercises, foods, anything she has learnt helps to increase our health.

Her love of the gospel: She has such a strong testimony! She has taught me gospel principles everyday. Whether it was in the garden, kitchen cooking, bearing her testimony in Primary, Young Women's, or Relief Society. There was never a time when I doubted that she had a testimony. She kept us kids going and for that, I am forever grateful. It couldn't have been easy. She loves going to the temple, and has been my "temple going companion" a few times. Those are definately special times. She has a calling in Relief Society to teach from the Joseph Smith manual. She loves learning about him, and the doctrines he taught. She is excited and shares with her family. And she is always prayerful to follow the Spirit whenever she is teaching a class, or an individual. There have been many times that the advice she has given me had been the answers to prayers. Her love of her Savior and Heavenly Father have always been close to her heart. She hesitates to bear her testimony because she gets emotional, but I love hearing it! She has such conviction and love.

Her ability to be silly: Yes, this is a trait that I admire! It actually makes me sad that she used to worry about embarrassing us kids. In Young Women's, we would go to Girl's Camp and I loved it! I got to spend a week with my mom, and I don't know if it was the atmosphere, or the fact that we hadn't showered in days! But that was when she would make me laugh harder than any of my friends ever could. Especially around the campfire! She became one of us girls, a great friend. I loved watching her take part of the skits the moms would do for the boys and girls teams in pep rallies when we went to District and State. She was always so funny and cute!

Her love of her family: Just as strong as her testimony of the Gospel, I never have doubted that she loved all of us! She would go without all of the time. I never knew, and will probably never know, how much she sacrificed for us kids. She always wanted the very best for us, whether it was drive all the way to Grace (30 min) so we could take clogging, or follow the sports teams to Lewiston, ID (I don't even know how far that is!?!) she always supported us in our activities. She would help us make posters and skits when we ran for student body officers. She helped us with our projects in school. In fact, a teacher teased me of being lucky enough to have a mom like mine! And it is true! She even was my sister's and my little league coach for softball and junior high cheerleading advisor! And a play director for my elementary plays. A boy scout leader for my brother. She wanted us to have every opportunity to be involved, even if that included her being in charge. And her love for her grandchildren. I don't think that anyone can get as excited as her when she hears their voices on the phone. They love talking with her, and always have songs to sing, which she rants and raves about how wonderful they are. She is always eager to hear about their activities.

Her love of my father, her eternal companion: I know that she loves my dad! There have been many times when I hear her praise him for the kind of man he is. She almost glows when she talks about how much he knows about his job, how people seek his help and advice, the acts of service he performs, and what a good friend he is. I think the times that I have felt/seen her love for him the most was when my dad was in the hospital, which have been a few times. She always wanted to be there with him, and wanted him to be as comfortable as possible. But due to helping him complete his job, she had to leave in the evenings. I remember one night, just after my mission, he was in the hospital and had an adverse reaction to morphine that made him confused and scared. We got a phone call in the middle of the night from the nurses who were concerned. I, being as annoying as ever, wanted to go with my mom to the hospital. That night, I slept on the couch at the bottom of his bed, and my mom layed next to my dad, comforting him and whispering that everything would be alright.

My best friend: She has always been my best friend. I don't know what I would do without her! Growing up, I would often choose to not go out with my friends so I could do something with her instead. Not because I had to, but because I would rather be with her than anyone else! She made me laugh! I could be silly around her, in fact, when I go home I digress back to my silly self, because I know that she will love me no matter what! We have the same interests. And throughout growing up to the present, she is the one I call when I am so excited or when I have to pour my heartache out. She has always been there for me.

....Thank you so much, Mom, for being YOU!!

School

Everyone seems confused as to what I am doing, which is totally understandable considering I am always changing my mind!?! SO here is the 411...

...So I am officially signed up to take Biology and Physics this summer, after a huge frustrating ordeal!! I will start on the 13th of May! I am a little nervous, but mostly excited to get things moving. And then I am registered for Anatomy in the Fall, and hopefully things will go well for taking Physiology in the Spring.

...I was planning on doing Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ultasound tech) that is an associates program through Salt Lake Community College, but I didn't get in, long story short(but I later found out there were problems with the college accepting/evaluating my transcripts so obviously the program couldn't see any of the prerequisites being fulfilled!?!?!). I also found out there were 170 plus applicants with only 16 openings. Anyways, I found out that they only admit every two years, a little bit daunting!

...So I looked more into the Radiology program through Weber State. They have a campus in Provo, and I would get my associates there as a rad. tech. (mostly xray) and then once I take the state boards, I can start the Bachelor's program. That is where I can specialize, I believe. And with that time, I will figure out if I only want to do ultrasound, or MRI's, or CT's, Radiology Therapy, ect. SO that is the goal and destination, and I am determined to enjoy the journey. My friend that I work with, Maria, went with me to get books, student ID, parking pass, ect. She was so cute to come, and we had fun. We even stopped by Gardners Village in Midvale, I love that place!! It is a favorite of me and my mom since High School. For anyone looking for a cute place to window shop and just enjoy life, this is the place to go!

...My friend Andrea has helped enforce positive thinking! She teased me with only having a "B" acceptable attitude, instead of reaching for an "A" in Anat/Phys. Which I relunctanly agreed to. So from now on, I am going to get A's!! And why not? I have had more medical experience since I took it last, and I also have many experts that I can ask questions. I think it will be more enjoyable this go around. So yeah for SCHOOL!!

...Also, Andrea and I have signed on for 24 HR. Fitness. I am enjoying it, however I am totally out of shape and sore!? But I remember loving that feeling in high school, knowing that it was a good pain, so I am trying to keep the same attitude.

...Then concerning the cruise, I can't get anyone to go with me!! I am so incredibly sad. So that is a downer, however I guess I should be grateful for not spending the money. And I have already found a project for it, a laptop for school. So far, I am daunted by how much they are, and feeling the hole in my pocket coming too fast. But it is a good thing in the long run.

...And finally, I get to go home this weekend!! I went home for Easter, but I am excited to go again, especially considering the fact that I won't be as able to when school starts.

That is me in a nutshell, and so hopefully my life will be semi stable without too many changes for you all to catch up!

Finally, the last of the 100 things about me! WaHoo!

Once again, and idea stolen from a friend...

10 years ago: (77)I was a senior waiting apprehensively about getting accepted to college and receiving scholarships. (78) Also, just about now I was going to Prom with a good friend, Brandon Wistisen. I loved my dress, we patterned it after two dresses on Titanic. The one she wore when she was about to jump off the ship, the other during the dinner where Jack is invited. (My mom made it for me, so talented!!) I wish I had it on cd, and I would post it for you to see.

5 things on my to do list today:(79-83)
1. Get food storage-funny story, at work the nurses told me about rice being sold out due to people freaking out! And what do I do? Curse myself for slacking off on the food storage and the first thing I did when I got off was stop at Macey's and bought rice, oatmeal, sugar, flour, cereal, beans, pasta, and yeast! I even waited for 7:00 to come to call my mom for advise on what beans were best! Well, I felt a huge wave of relief, but can laugh at myself for over reacting! But really, I feel a lot better now.
2. Exercise for an hour.
3. Sleep
4. Grab tax forms to fill out FASFA, which I forgot to do!! Frustration to the max!
5. Leave early for once! Yeah! I was 6 minutes early!! I have been so bad lately.

If I were suddenly a billionaire: (84)Buy a home, pay off my family's debts, plane tickets for my family to go to Cincinatti (sp?) for a week once a year and then Kevin's family tickets to come home for Christmas!! once a year, take my family on a cruise, go to Europe, and then, put everything left in investments to make money!!

3 bad habits: (85-87)
1. Early to bed, Early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise! has obviously not been a part of my life!
2. Eating poorly
3. Buying too much crap.

5 places I have served on my mission: (88-92) (California Roseville, north of Sacramento)
1. Citrus Heights (near Sacramento)
2. Willows (near Chico)
3. Granite Bay 2nd Ward(near Roseville)
4. Granite Bay 1st and 3rd Wards
5. Hillcrest (near Yuba City)

5 jobs I have had: (93-97)
1. Home Department Manager
2. CNA in a rest home
3. Loan/Title clerk at a credit union
4. Physical therapist at a chiropractor (not certified)
5. House keeper (I decided to keep going!)

5 words to decribe me: (98-102) HA I made it!!
1. dreamer
2. emotional
3. friendly
4. faithful
5. descriptive (that is why I write a paragraph on one thing!!


I'm taggin everyone who hasn't done this tag!!! But since I combined three, you can choose!! Especially I would love to have Rachel do this, and I am wishing that Stephanie had a blog...

100 Things about Me Continued... ABC's

A boring continuation! Sorry, but once again, a good journal entry for me!! ;0) So, I am still having a hard time doing this, therefore I decided to copy a friend's idea.
The ABC's of ME! (51-76)
A-Attached or Single? Single!!
B-Best line from a movie?
"Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove:
O no! it is an ever-fixed mark
That looks on tempests..." from Sense and Sensibility when Marianne and Willouby first converse. It is what made me decide to read more of Shakspeare. What could be more romantic than that? Just wait, here is the rest of it...
"That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wandering bark,
Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.
Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come:
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.
If this be error and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved."



C-Cake or pie? Pie, pumpkin
D-Day of Choice? It used to be Tuesdays, my one day off, but now that I quite the salon...I have way too much free time that I am going crazy!! SO now it will be the day that I start school, around June 2nd! I am sure I will regret that statement!!
E- Essential Item? Deoderant and lotion...my biggest fear is to smell! Funny, I know, but I don't want to repell people!
F- Favorite scent? Cranberries and oranges with cinnamon sticks.
G-Gummy bears or worms? worms
H- Hopes for the future? To graduate as a Sonograpy Tech!! To buy a place of my own. And of course, to be married in the Temple, and have kids while I can!?!
I- Favorite Indulgence? Chocolate, then Caramel, and together please!
J- January or July? Neither!! Can I say April!? But I guess if I had to choose it would be July.
K- Kids? One of my hopes listed before =0) but I also claim my nieces and nephews, so therefore I have 9, 8 that are living. 5 girls and 4 boys
L- Life isn't complete without? Technical communication, meaning cell phones to call family, blogging to keep in touch with friends =0), and texting to have quick simple ways to say hi!
M- My favorite past time? When I had a tub, I would love to light some candles, put in bathing salts and take a nice relaxing soak with music playing, and maybe a good book...boy do I miss that!
N-Number of brothers and sisters? 2 sisters, 2 brothers (I can count their spouses right!)
O- Oranges or apples? Oranges, they remind me of my mission. Plus there is nothing like an orange julius.
P- Phobias and fears? Ever since I was little, I had reoccuring nightmares of wolves! Even though I loved them and thought they were beautiful, I would always dream of being outside, and having them sneak up on me to attack! Scary I know! But I would escape and get inside our house in Chesterfield, only to have them break through the windows and attack my family!! Oooh! I had one just the other night.
Q- Quote? Life isn't measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away
R- Reason to smile? I have a job!! when so many don't
S- Season of Choice? Spring!! I love the colors after the winter time
T- Television or movies? Movies, big surprise
U- Unknown facts about me? I am vain about my hair! Funny I know, but even in High school, I always got compliments. SO it has gone to my head. Nothings makes me more puffed up then to get compliments on it ;0)
V- Vegetable- Avacado, no sandwich or salad is truly complete without one.
W- Worst habit? Laziness, when I come across obstacles, my fight goes out and I just want to lay down and rest.
X- X-ray or Ultrasound? X-ray of my arm when I was five and broke it playing on the monkey bars at home.
Y- Your least favorite holiday? It's obvious right? Valentine's Day
Z- Zodiac Sign? Taurus

Passing through the veil

You know, there are a lot of entries about faith. So, I hope people don't feel that I am preachey. I just think that due to my job, truly I am always confronted with the gospel principles. SO this entry is about passing through the veil...

I have found it very comforting to know that we are not alone in this life. That there is a plan for each of us, that we have eachother to lean on, and that life is journey that leads us to happiness. Through working, especially here at ICU, I have seen various stages of life. And when it comes time to allow loved ones to pass away, people are left staring in the face of their fears, and their faith is tested. But through my experiences, I have been strengthened through these moments.

It always leaves me in awe and wonder to find that when our loved ones linger towards dealth, that they are given a chance to say goodbye. (This, of course, is not always the case). Whether they are alert and aware that their time is coming, or they are in a coma and their vital signs linger on existence, I have seen that when the final loved one that they have been waiting for finally arrives to walk through those doors to say their final fairwell. And when this happens, I can see from the heart monitors, the patient slowly slip to the other side. It is a hallowed moment. A time when you know that they were just waiting for their family to let them go...

Too funny and sad for words...

So I have couple of funny/sad stories that happened to me at the salon this week. First of all, I have to give a background story. In January, there was a man who came in for a hair cut. I was the lucky stylist, and went to get him. The man had a scratched face, some of the cuts looked infected, and then he says he needs me to fix a bad haircut. Trying not to stare at him and make him more self conscious, I ask a few questions. This is what I found out. His wife made fun of him for going to a cheap place like Smart Styles, and so he decided to get an appointment at the high end salon she goes to. He ends up getting the wife of a coworker, and she, for some stupid reason, brings the clippers with a #2 guard (almost to the scalp) to the top of his head, and leaves the other side long. Hard to explain, I know but WOW! He said he paid $25 for a clown hair cut, and he had a business conference in California the following week.
K-a little bit stressful considering the situation! So I start blending in the sides and top while he tells me the rest of the story. A few days previously, he is at Smiths down in Woods Cross. He is in the parking lot and sees a woman beating her son to a bloody pulp! He yells at a distance to stop, but she ignores him. After trying a few more times, he decides to make his way to her, not knowing what else to do, but to help this poor kid. He touches her shoulder and wam, she turn on him and claws his face! Meanwhile, a lady is just observing them at a distance, and he yells to call 911. Long story short, his week has literally been from Hell! But he still seems in good spirits and can laugh about it. Even a customer who was getting a haircut at the same time, asked him to repeat the story to her husband. He good naturedly did. So, I do, what I think is an amazing job and joke around about having a permanent customer! and wish him good luck in Cali!
So Wednesday, this same man walks in! I express my delight in seeing him and tell him how great he looks! His face is fully healed with a few scars. The top of his hair has finally grown out to what he wants, but needs it shaped, and the sides shorter. So I am catching up on how his trip was to Cali, and he says he has been to New York, Tennessee, and Philadelphia since then! Wow! So then I ask him since he is gone all of the time, did he get to take his family or at least his wife? His comment was, "I would have loved to take my wife, but a week after you saw me, she filed for a divorce." !?!?! OH my!! I couldn't believe it! This poor guy, who already was having a horrible week, had this happen to him. Now granted, I had only met him twice, and for a few minutes at that, but he was such a nice guy! And upbeat about everything! He even said he was living in a motor home now, and was liking it! I couldn't believe it! I thought wow, how could life get much worse for this guy? And then I thought, wow, I have everything so good. So I said a quick prayer of gratitude for my blessings, and then one for him, that his life would start looking up.
On a lighter note, a funny story! The same day, I am cutting this guy's hair, who is superly cute, and he knows it. So I chitchat away with him, style his hair, and of coarse, he needs to rearrange every hair a little differently to be just perfect. I offer for him to use our sink where we wash their hair. I turn to get some hand soap and splash, my butt is soaking wet!! And I think he was shocked because it took him a while to turn it off. I shout, "What, is it the hair cut? You could have just told me!" Ha! It was so funny! He was so embarrassed, so I of coarse tell him not to worry about it, that I did that to my first haircut and got her good! It was just funny how cool and controlled he was before, and then how embarrassed he was. He even gave me a $8 tip! Heck, he can get me wet anytime, if I always got that kind of a tip!?!

Reflections of Christ

I thought this was an amazing slide show! And so, I wanted to share it on my blog. ENJOY!
"Reflections of Christ"

Miracles...

My sister politely reminded me that I have not posted in a while! Sorry! But honestly, I have had a horrible month, as far as pessimism goes, so I didn't dare post! Why? It is spring, and spring always gets me excited for new beginnings. But for some reason....but I think that I am out of that funk!! And so, I am posting!

First of all, I would like to say that miracles do happen. Being Krystell, I am always changing. I decided to wave off the rejection of the Ultrasound program and take Anatomy, Physiology, and Algebra again to better my grades. I am also trying to get a hold of the department to see what else I can improve, but they are ignoring me, but I won't get into that! Therefore, I would have to go back to school in the summer to be done in time, which also means that my work schedule at the hospital wouldn't work, and I would definately have to quit my salon job. So, after a lot of thought, prayer, and fasting, I knew that this was what I had to do. This past fast sunday, which was March 30, I didn't feel like I had an answer one way or the other. Just the same feeling of, it is my choice. However, I was stressed out about working, and going to school, how would I do it all? But then I came to work at the hospital, and I found out that a girl was quitting, and she just happened to work some of the shifts I needed! So, long story short, I am able to change my schedule to Sunday, Thursday, and Friday nights each week, and go to school Mon-Thurs! And I quit my salon job, but the family I live with has a salon in their basement that I can use for my clients!! So I felt a wave of gratitude to my Heavenly Father for making miracles happen for me, as undeserving as I am, especially lately. But I feel it as a huge hug that says, "I still love you, and want you to succeed. So pick up your feet and move forward!!"

I know, I know, you all are thinking, "you know Krystell, she always changes her mind". Which is true! But considering that I love so many things, and just needed to discover new things about myself, my goals, my talents, and my weaknesses. The major reason for giving up nursing, besides rejection after rejection from programs, was that I lack confidence in myself, knowledge, and decision making, which is crucial for a nurse. I felt a huge sick void in my stomach whenever I thought about that responsiblity, the ability to do my best and move one without suffering through hind sight. Do I make any sense? Oh well, so I knew I could not be a nurse. But through 3 years of working in the hospital, I still have a love for the medical field. It wasn't until I was talking to a great friend and nurse that I even thought about ultrasound. So I believe it will be a perfect fit! And I can still do cosmetology on the side, because I love doing that too.

Back to the main thought of this post. I wanted to talk about miracles. I think that it is a hard thing to grasp, and I am still trying to understand and know that it will be an eternal precept. Sometimes things work out just how we have hoped and prayed for. Other times, there seems to be an unrelenting silence. Then there are those times that our worst fears stare us back in the face...I have come to find a truth in the words given in the movie "Charly", yes a movie!! When Sam is talking to his father and eating cookies...After they find out that Charly has terminal cancer and there are no other treatments, and Sam says something to the effect of "What good is faith if it is just something to fill up Sacrament meetings. But when you really need it..." And then his father says, "And when you really need it, the pain will dull to an ache, and you won't give into that void." I have found this to be so true, mostly through the testimony of my family members. Yes, many things happen that seem too much to bear, and our hearts are torn apart. But because of the eternal promises our Father and Brother have made with us, if we endure, all of the pain begins to ebb. Life takes on a whole new pallet of colors, we begin to understand how precious those eternal covenants are, we recommit ourselves to be with Them again, and the painting takes our breath away. That is the miracle of the Atonement. That no matter what happens in this life, that there is so much more in store for us. We have a Savior that not only suffered for the pains of our sins, but also for the heartaches we feel in this life. And that we, with our Father, are strong enough to endure together.

100 things about me! Tagged

Thanks to Andrea, you get this long list....my condolences! Sorry! But believe me, no more than I am. It took days to think of that many things! Here we go...(post note a month later: It is taking way too long! So I decided to post the first 50, and will try to finish the last half later!!).

1) I love to read a lot! The literary world astounds me. 2) I love music. It affects my moods, helps to relax me, and even strengthens my testimony. 3) I love my family! They are all amazing. 4) Overall I love my job! I am grateful for it. 5) I tend to be lazy when I have too much free time. If I don't have a busy schedule then I tend to lay around doing nothing important. Hence my crazy schedule! 6) I love home decor. I could look through houses forever, and admire all of the pretty things. 7) I like art. But my favorite is the impressionist era. 8) I use to play the violin. I have only played it for few years, on and off, but I loved playing it. I should pick it up again.... 9) I like architecture, and would absolutely love to go to Europe and admire the beauty. I am a lot like my mom in that regards as well as home decor. 10) I love the idea of living by a beach. It seems so soothing and yet so different. I have only seen the ocean twice, but I loved each time. 11) I wish I lived in Oregon along the coast. 12) My best friends are my family members. 13) I love to watch movies. In fact, I am what I like to call a DCA (DVD collectors addict) and have a really hard time! 14) My favorite movies are always historically based, and are usually based on a classical novel. 15) The next favorite movies are musicals, I am a sucker for musicals! 16) I like to go to plays. I don't know why, but I have always enjoyed them, especially musicals. I seem to be repeating myself... 17) I love Shakespeare, even though there is so much negative criticism about him, I think that there are many profound truths that have been quoted by many wise men, even the prophets. Therefore I feel justified in liking his work! 18)When I am really tired, I get emotional. In fact, more towards the angry/crying outbursts. And the funny thing is,I know I am being irrational, but even so, I can't stop. Many times, I think, "K, you are tired. Don't say another word, and just go to bed!" I have gotten into many an awkward situation, and if I would have just slept, things would have turned out a lot differently. 19) I love to travel. I haven't done a whole lot, but I have loved every time I have. The East coast was my favorite. There is just a unique sense of pride/history there. 20) I love learning about history. Big surprise! In fact, I use to want to be a History and Literature teacher, but since I have a hard time dealing with teenagers, I had to rule that out. SHOOT! 21)I clogged when I was 5, and did that until I was in fifth grade. Then I took a class at RICKS, it is fun! 22) I still get homesick! Rediculous I know, but I just love being home with my parents. I blame them for my inability to move too far away from them! J/K but seriously, I will be 27, and I still enjoy hanging out with them. 23) I like to crochet. I have made 3 afghans so far, and 2 baby blankets. Plus scarfs and hot pads. I picked it up while I worked in Labor and Delivery at nights, and we had so much down time. What a granny I am! 24) While I am admitting my granny behaviors, I enjoy sewing. I have sewn since I was in 4-H, I want to say 8(?), and made one of my prom dresses for a project. 25) My mom made the other prom dress, and homecoming dress, and I had girls envy! She has a true talent. In fact she made my sister's wedding dress, and it is breathtaking!! 27) I can knit! Not the best, but my Aunt Joann taught me while I was living with her, and I have tried to keep it going. It frustrates me more then crochet, but I am determined to do better! I even started a sweater that a nurse showed me how to do....hmmm, it could be interesting. 28) I use to be a daredevil. I wanted to do anything my big brother could do, and have been accused of being a tomboy! But when I grew older, it made it funner to hang out with the guys and be as daring as them. It worked well with flirting! But then I busted my knee, and all of my dare with it! 29) I wish that I could cook! All of the women in my family are amazing cooks, (mom, sisters, grandmas) and somehow I missed that gene. 30) I wish that I could retain information better. With classes, I was good to memorize for quizes, but then when the test came around, I had a hard time remembering what I memorized!! What a pathetic long term memory I have! 31)My favorite day is the true first day of spring. Not the one on the calendar, but when you see the crocuses and tulips popping their heads up, what a beautiful sight. 32) My favorite holiday is Easter. I can't really pinpoint when it became it. I think I enjoyed playing outside finally! And I loved flowers, and getting a new dress for church. But for years, I have enjoyed Easter, and the hope that the Atonement of Christ gives us. 33) My favorite hymn is "I Know that My Redeemer Lives", especially the last verse. 34) My favorite sacrament hymn is "Reverently and Meekly Now" once again, especially the last verse. 35) I remember in seminary, my cousin Tyson would always want to sing "Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief" and I didn't know why. In fact, it bugged me once, and I said something about it. Then my teacher explained the meaning behind it, and the significance of it to Joseph Smith. Needless to say I was humbled, and now the words are such a testimony of Christ, and Joseph's love for Him. 36) I almost got into my first and only fist fight when I was a freshman playing a varsity game at Mackay. We were home, and it was the last few minutes. They let me play, and I remember I had to guard a senior. We both went up for the rebound, I won! Or so I thought until the girl grabbed the ball, and we fought back and forth, and she threw me with the ball! I was so mad and I came after her with my fist cocked! Thank goodness for my team mate that pulled me back. WOW! My temper can get the better of me! 37) My siblings and I never got into physical fights. I know, what!?! But we never did. I remember I was yelling back and forth with my brother, and he turned his back on my and headed down the stair. It made me angry, so I pushed him hard. He whipped around and I thought, "Crap, I so deserve it!" But he just looked at me, then turned around again and went to his room. What a kind brother! I always remember that and grateful for his example. 38) My sister let me hang out with her friends. Can you believe it? The baby sister by 4 1/2 years, and she involved me. So between the two of them, can they get any more perfect? The answer is yes! They are wonderful examples to me of love, patience, and faith!! 39) My first pet was Samantha a siamese house cat we inherited from a friend. She use to be my alarm clock, and in the morning she would lay on my pillow, often times on my head! I loved her so much! 40) My favorite Disney princess is Aurora. (Now my niece Aimee loves her too!)I use to pretend I was her, and sing and dance! I knew that I would one day meet my prince Phillip. Still waiting...maybe my pitch is off and he doesn't like my song...time for singing lessons! 41) My next favorite is Bell (which another niece Alyssa loves too, I never found out what Beth's was...) 42) Why these two, because their love story is not the fact that they were royalty, but instead they loved eachother despite they were a peasant, or a beast. In fact, I liked the Beast as a beast, not as the prince. Why did he have to change? 43) When I was little and watched Disneys and musicals, I often thought "When you meet the one that you love, how do you know what song to sing?" Isn't that hillarious? 44) I love getting dressed up. I don't really have any reason now, but in high school, I loved formals. And even now, going to church, or just out with some friends, I like feeling cute. I guess I will never grow out of the dress up phase. 45) I wish I was better at keeping in contact with people. I was horrible with people from my mission, college, and even relatives. 46) I wish I was better at journal writing. My sister kept journals, and I think she still might. I love hearing about my ancestors, and each time I rededicated myself to doing better. And I do good for a month, and then I drop off the face of the earth. Sounds like my blogging too. 47) I grew up on a ranch where we could play outside all day. We had an old caboose and bus that the was on the ranch next to a cannal that was the perfect playground for adventure. We had horses, cows, dogs, and cats. What more could a kid want? 48) I use to read up in the tree, I dressed up as a pioneer, with my cat Samantha in a dress and bonnet, with a well of water made out of buckets that I pulleyed up to the branches. I could stay there all day. 49) I had a mission pres. who encouraged us to memorize the discussions, then the verses within the discussion, and then the verses that were listed as helps. I can't remember how many there were, but I did it! And I am grateful for it! I still can remember a few, but I wish I could remember more. I'll have to review them again... 50) My favorite area in the mission was the richest area where many Kings players lived, Eddie Murphy, and whoever else. Why? Because every city has to have a wellfare section, so we found people to teach there, and the members were exceptional in helping out, offering a place to teach, and service. I learned that they were successful for a reason!

Such is Life!!

So I have been very pessimistic of late. It seems that nothing is working out! First of all, even though I work tons with two jobs, I still can't afford a townhouse, curse Utah County!! And remember I was reviewing my goals, and I didn't want to mention one just yet? Well, anyways, I applied for the Ultrasonography program that the IHC has with Salt Lake Community College, and I was rejected. Add the medical problems of my family, I am ready to scream! So I have been annoyed with everything, friends, jobs, people....anywho, as I like to say, "Such is Life!!"

So, therefore, I am going to go back to my previous goals and go on a cruise. Yes, very irresponsible, but hey, I am sick of stressing and working hard, and nothing works out anyways....so why not do something fun and not care!?! Exactly. So a group from my work at the hospital are going for 14 days to the Carribean. But it is broken up into 2 parts, so I will go to the first half with them. And I am totally excited to go!! Heres to recklessness and spontaneity!!




Also as a side note, thanks to the many suggestions (wink, wink!) I have decided to read all of the Chronicles of Narnia. I have started "The Magicians Nephew". It is interesting, however I am not sure what Gospel principle C.S. Lewis is trying to teach....Adam and Eve? That is my guess. Those of you who have read them, I would LOVE to hear your experience and ideas...