Amber Elizabeth

Souvenir

2011-11-23T06:47:00.001-07:00

Once upon a time, in 2007, I traveled to a mythical land called Europe. When returned home, I brought with me the best souvenir ever--my handy dandy hairbrush.

When it broke yesterday, I realized I have a strange attachment to my perfect little practical souvenir. Maybe now I can let it go..

New Place...After Part One

2011-11-06T18:48:00.001-07:00

Here are a few pictures of my apartment. There are many projects that are still partially done, but you get the idea.

Part Two will be the bedroom. I'm babysitting this weekend and the baby is sleeping on my bed. :)

Pinterest.

2011-10-15T21:22:00.003-06:00

As though I didn't already have enough half-finished projects...

PINTEREST has sucked me in.

This is a recipe for disaster. Or a really cute house. I'll let you know.

The New Place...Before.

2011-09-27T20:25:00.001-06:00

Because I can.

2011-08-03T18:28:00.003-06:00

I feel like blogging. I don't have anything important (or even intelligent) to say. But nonetheless, all of these thoughts swimming around in my head feel the need to be shared. Lucky you!

1) I LOVE MY JOB! It is the hardest, most time consuming, exhausting job on the planet. I am mother, counselor, chef, maid, disciplinarian, friend, and confidant to my cute kids. This year I am teaching 5th-8th grades, exclusively math. I love the new schedule. And my new room is beautiful. After all the improvements have been completed, I'll post pics. Its still a work in progress.

I feel so much more prepared for this year than last. Its strange what a difference such preparation can make in one's attitude toward work. I haven't had a problem getting up in the mornings...getting out of bed may be a different story. My to-do list continues to grow longer, but I'm looking forward to another eventful year with Children First Academy of Phoenix.

2) Its hot. I don't know why I live here, though the job and the Lord could have something to do with it. I NEVER go outside. People pretend like they might someday be jealous of that tan I'm supposed to have. But said tan doesn't exist. And probably never will. I run from the house to the car, the car to the school, and back. When its a billion and one degrees, sitting by the pool does NOT sound even remotely relaxing. It sounds like enemy torture.

3) I have lost all motivation for my sewing/crafting/creating/decorating/designing. Maybe its because I'm moving and I'm saving it all for then. Maybe its because I'm burned out. Maybe its because its too hot to sit under a pile of fabric and sew. Maybe its because I'm lazy. Whatever it is, I wish I could get my groove back. I have a lot of baby gifts to make.

4) I want my hair to grow out. Faster. Seriously.

5) I should be packing instead of blogging. I'm going to a wedding in another state this weekend and then I NEED to move. So really, I could be packing just about anything and that would qualify as productive. Instead, I'm sitting on the couch, computer in tow. Does anyone see anything wrong with this picture? I didn't think so.

6) I just need to whine for a second. WWWWHHHHIIIINNNNEEE!!! Okay, now I'm done. Continue as you were.

I want one.

2011-07-01T18:17:00.003-06:00

No. I NEED one.
It will save me a fortune, since I'm constantly redecorating!

Anyone want to donate? I'll come decorate for you too! :D Maybe I could write a grant to use it at school...

Catch Up

2011-06-27T20:21:00.004-06:00

I guess its been a short while since the last time I posted. I've canceled my internet at home and for some reason, work seems to think that blogs are a waste of company time. =) But I've figured out a way around the system (tethering from my phone) and I'm going to attempt to update the one person who reads this.

1) I colored my hair. I am really enjoying the dark! Its sassy and fun...and so much easier to keep up with!

2) We had a flag burning ceremony on the last day of school. The second graders had found an old flag buried in their garden plot. So they did their research and practiced hard and did a wonderful job putting the American flag to rest. I don't think I've ever seen our entire school so quiet!

3) I volunteered for the Wasatch Back RAGNAR. IT WAS SO MUCH FUN! I'm determined to run it next year. I've even started working out again...pretty pathetically, but gotta start somewhere! Want to join my team?!? I drove from Phoenix to SLC to spend five hours on the route, helping in whatever capacity I was capable. The Heber Valley was gorgeous! I miss those mountains...and even that snow.

4) I got a kitten! My dear friends' cat had kittens and their cute little girl asked me to take one home. She was nearly impossible to catch and spent the majority of the first two days hidden under the front seat of my car. Now she is impossible to keep quiet and NEVER hides. She is fun to have around, and I'm grateful to have a piece of home here in the great AZ.

5) My daddy came to visit! He spent a week here with me. We ate out and went to the movies and he spoiled me rotten. We didn't take any pictures, but I did save the spectacular map that I made for him. Be impressed!

I will do better at keeping up with the blog. In the meantime, I'm moving apartments, moving classrooms, writing a large grant, attempting to plan an awesome afterschool program, sleeping, and taking care of my homeless kids. Much love to my one reader! ;)

My Home Away From Home

2011-04-11T20:04:00.006-06:00

I work at the nation's largest school for homeless children. Yes. Homeless. As in shelter, car, hotel, couch at a friend's house-- homeless. They are the most adorable, trusting, smelly kids you've ever seen. I love them with every ounce of me. They are mine.

At the beginning of February (WOW my blog is behind the game), I was reassigned to a new grade, a new classroom, a new set of adorable kids. These ones were a little tougher to "bond" with. Now that they know they are a really stuck with me, we get a long wonderfully. I took it upon myself to completely redecorate our classroom. It is nothing spectacular. But you should have seen the BEFORE befores. :)

Before: Notice how bland the walls are. And how disgustingly uneven the paint job is. I really hope they didn't pay someone for that paint job.

Don't mind the sleeping baby. She is an every day attachment. We like her. :)

Between: Ignore the mess...pretty much everywhere. It was a little crazy in there!

After: Brighter walls, more color, happier students...well most of them anyway. :)

My 25th Birthday: EDIT

2011-03-28T19:35:00.006-06:00

For my birthday this year, I happened to be at an Expeditionary Learning Conference in Denver, with my co-worker/friend/therapist/lunch date, Shaunna. We had a great time and learned a TON about how to differentiate instruction for our sweet kids. We flew home on my actual day of birth and I was greeted by my Aunt Julie, rushed to her house, and surprised with cake, balloons, and mild amounts of fanfare.

Shaunna and I at the airport.

Birthday cake!

The night before our return home, the conference ended early and Shaunna and I were bored. I wanted cupcakes. Being that the following day would be my birthday, Shaunna (in her diseased state) agreed to accompany me on a cupcake adventure in downtown Denver. The closest cupcake shop that Google could direct us to was approximately 2.4 miles away. In one direction. It was cold, but we walked quickly. The cupcakes were totally worth it.

Sweet Finds!

2011-01-23T20:19:00.003-07:00

I have wanted this bed at IKEA for a long time. However this bed is not free. Nor is it cheap. So last weekend, while I was dreaming about the IKEA bed, I decided to stop by Goodwill. It happened to be half-price Saturday: MY FAVORITE! And look what I found!

Though this is not exactly the same, it creates the same feeling. This headboard was $10! It needs a little TLC, but until I have time for that, it looks awesome in my room. With the money I saved, I was able to buy some new bedding to get me through until I finally finish my quilt. Maybe that can happen before 2012.

I also rearranged the room. I had to get my head away from the window. I like it much better this way!

I also created some cool wall art. I bought a 2'x4' fluorescent light cover at The Home Depot. It is translucent and very textured. I also bought a stencil at Hobby Lobby and used a can of spray paint I already had. The frames are from Goodwill. I sprayed the stencil onto the smooth side of the light cover three times, alternating the pattern each time. I cut the pieces to fit the frames, and put them in with the textured side facing out. They look pretty cool against the white wall.

I also rehung the frames in the dining room. The polka dot frame was a Christmas gift (WHICH I LOVE!) and will eventually hold the family pics we recently had taken.

Dad's Joke

2010-12-17T17:47:00.001-07:00

Last night, I was visiting my aunt and uncle and cousins and mooching some dinner. We were merrily chatting and I had the urge to share my favorite joke. This is a joke my daddy used to tell when I was in high school. Its ridiculous. Enjoy.

What do a duck and a bicycle have in common?
They both have handlebars. Except for the duck.

TGIF ya'll!

Living Room Walls

2010-12-05T15:13:00.001-07:00

Des's Visit

2010-12-05T15:07:00.002-07:00

Des came to visit me in Arizona over Veteran's Day Weekend. She got to experience a day at Children's First Academy, eat lots of good food, and talk me into cutting my hair off. Thanks for coming, friend. I can't wait to do it again!

Table Runners

2010-10-05T16:22:00.002-06:00

Busy Busy Bee

2010-09-27T15:20:00.008-06:00

About a month ago, my wonderful job informed me that I would be unable to work until my fingerprint clearance came in. So I have had oodles and oodles of time to make my apartment feel like home. I have become best friends with the Paint Department at the Home Depot, and my good friends at JoAnn Fabric and Craft can almost welcome me by name. Sitting around here all day, staring at my walls, has given me lots of creative ideas on how to dress things up for cheap. After all, I am sort of unemployed for the time being.

Let me know what you think!

I started with the table and chairs. These used to belong to my grandmother; she owned them for as long as I can remember. I am pretty sure they were the $59 blue-light special at K-Mart to begin with and they were FALLING apart. So I basically started over...still not perfect, but much better than before.

The chair after the seats had been removed...ready for priming.

Primer going on!

I am too poor to afford new foam cushions. So I removed the old foam, washed it, and reused it. It was drying here.

All put back together! Primed with gray, painted with Granite, reupholstered seats. I even replaced the wood that made the seats--a little pricey but now I'm not afraid I am going to fall through.

Next, I decided to pain the table. But only the top. I didn't want to take it apart and then have to put it back together because much of the hardware is stripped and I am lazy. So I painted the top with acrylic paint and then sealed it with MogPog.As a final touch, I bough all new wood buttons for the chairs and painted them black. They are the perfect finish!

I bought these letters before I moved. I finally finished painting them and adding a few extra touches. They didn't quite turn out how I imagined, but I like them hanging above the dining table. Not very straight apparently...I'll go fix that now.

I made this table runner for the dining table. It matches the colors perfectly and it was a quick project to fill some time.

In the living room, I found some fabric at Goodwill that I based all my colors around. I made some pillow covers to match! The front is Goodwill fabric and the back is an old shower curtain. I got three down pillows at Goodwill for $5. I love half off days!

This bookcase was the first of my spray painting adventures (Thanks Julie!) and the Goodwill fabric was the perfect finishing touch for the back. I can't take credit for the idea. Aunt Julie is the master mind.

So after the orange came the blue!

And last but not least, the green. It still needs one more coat and a sealer. But I love how the detail on the edge of the table pops when its in color!

Table Runner to match the green, blue and orange of the rest of the room. I love how the green fabric almost disappears against the green table. It will be finished soon enough..and bound in brown.

In my bedroom, I hung a shower curtain on a shower curtain rod, with ribbon as the hangers, to hide the built in bookshelf. It is basically just a dumping ground for me. (PS- Alison, I LOVE that cross-stitch you did for me way back when. I read it everyday and I always think of you. ;) )

I MADE A HEADBOARD! Its not totally amazing, but it will do for now. I had a bunch of leftover, heavy duty lumber from the seats of the dining chairs. My good friends at Home Depot cut it down so it would fit in my car and then I just had to come up with something to do with it! So I painted the edges brown, mogpoged some adorable paper onto the front, and coating everything with clear spray paint. All in all I think it cost me $20--way cheaper than the bed I wanted. Maybe I'll get that bed next summer and re-purpose the lumber again.

And here is the bedroom all rearranged the put back together. I moved the bed into the small alcove under the window. It is a perfect (literally half an inch on either side) fit. The cedar chest my sister made me makes a perfect foot board. And I love that my blankets are in easy reach and it says my name, just in case I forget. :D Please excuse the mess.

A few projects left, like hanging things on the walls, and I think i will be able to tolerate this joint for the next 10 months. Now I just need to get a job...and some friends close by.
Please feel free to come and visit!

The Brother. He is HOME!

2010-09-19T18:27:00.004-06:00

Waiting for his arrival...a day late.

Here he comes! At the top of the stairs!

Elder Brian Michael Sturm has returned! This was the next morning waiting to head to church.

Both my brothers

All of us together again

And I had to include this just because my hair looks good. :)

All Moved In

2010-09-04T17:19:00.004-06:00

Apparently, the nightly Stray Cat Association meeting is on the lawn outside my door. Last night there were 4 malnourished cats at the gathering.

My bedroom...its bland right now. That just means I have lots to work with...right?
Walk-In-Closet. Notice how the right side is empty. I need more clothes.
The hot water heater/pantry/linen closet/storage
I am a little bit OCD...CDO...about my drawers. Its nice to have an entire bathroom vanity to myself!

Bathroom
My recently finished letters. I think I will hang them above the dining table.
View from the front door--to the left. The kitchen table/chairs are going to get a face lift as soon as I can find the money to do it...its gonna be awesome though!
Living room.

#2096

2010-08-20T22:10:00.006-06:00

Today I got around to taking pictures of the new apartment. There is no furniture in it at the moment. I am working on that. But be excited anyway!

There is a rug on the floor. Fresh from Ikea! Thanks Julie! ILY!

Goodwill and I are soon to be bff. :) Let me know when you are coming to visit!

Going Away Party

2010-08-16T20:54:00.002-06:00

Living Arrangements

2010-08-16T18:42:00.003-06:00

My dear Aunt Julie and Uncle Dana have allowed me to stay with them since my arrival in Phoenix. They just bought a bigger home to give themselves more space. Then they promptly squished in like sardines again and welcomed me with open arms. I hope for their sake that I am out of their way soon. It will be nice to unpack my boxes and feel like I am starting a life here.

Until then, this is my room. :)

Missing Utah...

2010-08-14T13:00:00.002-06:00

My BFFs...You know who you are and why I miss you.
My Mountains
Daylight Savings Time. It is dark early here.
Gas stations on every corner
Utah Mormons
97.1's Morning Show
Knowing my way around better than the back of my hand
My 2nd Family...and my 1st family for that matter.
Cool mornings
THE SWEET TOOTH FAIRY--CUPSHAKES!
Provo. For about 2 seconds.

Goodbye to Utah County

2010-07-16T22:12:00.003-06:00

Thanks to all those that were able to stop by and say hello/goodbye on Tuesday night. It was so wonderful to see you all! Even the crazy man dancing in the park, the homeless cat, and the creepy ice cream man.

New Suit

2010-07-11T21:45:00.000-06:00

I got this one. It doesn't look that good on me, but I like it!

Thinking...

2010-07-05T09:32:00.002-06:00

I think this is where I am going to live. I want a one bedroom. I will buy an AeroBed for all of my guests to sleep on. Come visit! We'll be at the pool the whole time anyway. ;)

I think I want this sectional. It will be perfect for my little place. Or one like it.
And I think I will be buying a new swimming suit from here today. I am going to need it. Especially when ya'll come to visit!

When You're the Best of Friends....

2010-06-27T17:04:00.003-06:00

In light of all that is going on in my life right now, I have been thinking a lot about all of the dear friends that I have had over the years. There have been so many people come and go from my life, yet most of them have left a lasting impression. I want to share a few dear memories of those people. There is no way I will remember all of them, so if you don't get mentioned, know that I love you anyway.

S and J lived around the corner from me in first grade. I remember playing with the bird feeders and riding bikes in the church parking lot. Those were the days. J got baptized after I moved. I still wish I could have been there.

SW was a lot older than me, but she was still willing to let me play with her. I used to wait for the bus to bring her home from school so we could check on the watermelon growing in the backyard.

I met JB a couple days after I moved to Utah. Her mom had just had surgery and was still in the hospital. I was looking for someone to swim with me. We were attached at the hip for a lot of years. We've been through so much and I am so grateful to still have her as a friend. She is a great example to me. She can say much in few words. She is good at cutting out the drama. When I grow up, I want to be like J.

MD doesn't know how much I miss him. We always hung out when we were grounded from our other friends. Every Sunday we'd bake. Cakes and cookies and anything we decided looked good. When I was sick, he would bring me Jamba Juice or come watch Emperor's New Groove and eat popcorn with me. He always told me I was beautiful. He helped me realize that I am cooler than I give myself credit for.

AB is an amazing person. She is one of those people that I never quite feel adequate around. I have become so close to her family; they are like my own. Though we aren't as close as we used to be, I am grateful for the many things she has taught me. She showed me that I deserve to be loved and not let people treat me badly. She tells great stories and makes the best faces. She can speak volumes with her eyes. She doesn't put up with crap. I hope we can be lifelong friends.

DB would give me everything she has and then ask what else I need. I don't know what I would do without her. She is always excited for the new adventures I sign myself up for and she helps me to see the good in life. She always lets me be upset for a few minutes first.

KT has allowed me to be a part of her life for a lot of years. I am grateful for her and E and E and J and C and E. They love me like their own. They bring me on vacations and keep me entertained. I miss them dearly.

My friends teach me so many things. I am so grateful for their examples in my life. I know that I am not always the best friend in return, but I am glad that they stick around in spite of my weaknesses. These people make me who I am today.

*Dear Friends, Please don't forget about me even though I am moving to Arizona. You always have an open invitation at my house. I miss you already. I love you!*

UVU Quilt

2010-06-26T20:48:00.005-06:00

Its all finished! I did all the quilting free hand on a dear friend's machine, and M was kind enough to do the binding for me. Thanks so much! I owe you big time! I was really happy with the way it turned out. And A seemed to be pleased. Now I have new motivation to finish the one for me!

Lee Brice Concert

2010-06-23T12:03:00.008-06:00

Monday night was the Lee Brice Concert. It was so good! Now I just need the CD!

Pay It Forward

2010-06-19T22:29:00.003-06:00

About a week ago, a dear friend posted a link to The Laundry Faerie. Soozcat of The Laundry Faerie was beginning a round of Pay It Forward. I happened to stumble upon her blog at just the right time and had the opportunity to participate! YAY!

My package arrived today, and I am so excited! I made my dear roommate sit and open with it with me...while her fiance waited in the hot car. He lived. Everything is right with the world. :)

Here are my treasures!

1) Chocolate! I love chocolate! 2) Adorable necklace and earrings. I can't wait to wear them to school! 3) Glow sticks with a little note of inspired wisdom. I needed those words this week. Thank you Soozcat.

So here is how it works:

The first three people to leave me a comment will be my "Pay It Forward" recipients. You must have a blog so I can read your postings and learn a little about you. That way, I will know what to send just for you! Then, when you receive your package from me, you post pictures of what you received, just as I have done, and wait for three comments on your blog. And the game continues on! If there are any questions, you can ask me anytime. It really is a whole lot of fun! Let's see how far this pay it forward will go!

**I reserve the right to adjust the rules as needed. So even if you don't have a blog, feel free to leave a comment. Maybe you'll get a prize anyway. :)

Love This Song...

2010-06-12T09:25:00.002-06:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4KLJKDXWwQ

Mama, you taught me to do the right things
So now you have to let your baby fly.
You've given me everything that I will need
To make it through this crazy thing called life.

And I know you watched me grow up
And only want what's best for me.
And I think I found the answer to your prayers.

And he is good, so good.
He treats your little girl like a real man should.
He is good, so good.

He makes promises he keeps.
No, he's never gonna leave.
So don't you worry about me.
Don't you worry about me.

Mama there's no way you'll ever lose me
Giving me away is not goodbye.
As you watch me walk down to my future
I hope tears of joy are in your eyes.

'Cause he is good, so good.
And he treats your little girl like a real man should
He is good, so good.

He makes promises he keeps.
No, he's never gonna leave.
So don't you worry about me.
Don't you worry about me.

And when I watch my baby grow up
I'll only want what's best for her
And I hope she'll find the answer to my prayers
And that she'll say

He is good, so good
And he treats your little girl like a real man should
He is good, so good

He makes promises he keeps
No he's never gonna leave
So don't you worry about me
Don't you worry about me

Mama don't you worry about me
Don't you worry about me.

Flowers

2010-06-09T20:51:00.004-06:00

I have been house sitting for my dear friend Chelsea. Her yard is always beautiful. The flowers are blooming and I feel like sharing. :D

The clouds were so cool! The summer thunderstorms just keep on coming. :D

2010-05-31T11:14:00.002-06:00

Dear Life,

I just want you to know that I don't like these transitions that you throw at me. They always come when I least expect them, and they are not fun. There are too many tough decisions to be made. And too many things I have to learn. Once I get to the other side, I always realize that you were right; it was time for a change. But until then, I just wanted you to know that we aren't friends.

Sincerely,
Amber

New Do

2010-05-28T18:15:00.000-06:00

PS- I got a hair cut. What do you think?

Playing Catch Up

2010-05-28T09:19:00.005-06:00

Oh goodness! You all probably thought I died. I didn't, but I have to be honest. There have been days in recent weeks where I started to think those guys on the other side have it easy. :)

So much has been happening in my life! Some events have pictures to match; others do not. Bear with me.

First things first. The weekend trip to Saint George. Little Sister Kristen is working at Jacob Lake, AZ for the summer. So Amy and I made a weekend trip to Saint George and met up with Kristen. It was so fun!

It all started with a good old trip to Red Robin. YUMMM!!

Then there was swimming at the hotel pool. We were right across the street from the outlets. Not too shabby!

Saturday night we went shopping and ordered pizza from the Brick Oven. Pretty sure I fell asleep early... Sunday we went into Zion's National Park. It was beautiful. The perfect day for hiking.

Just the 3 of us...

Mr. Snake!

The Weeping Rocks

MMMM....Utah's Most Expensive Soft Serve Ice Cream!

Kristen trying to sleep in the rock. Amy did it too. It was not effective.

Mr. Lizard

Bambi tried to follow us home. Her boyfriend was a few feet up the trail. We could get so close and she just watched us click pictures of her. It was crazy!

I have been working on lots of sewing projects. I have a few in the works that I will take pictures of soon. But here is a quilt I made for a friend. I designed it myself!

Next weekend (June 5th to be exact) I am going to Arizona to take the Arizona Educator's Proficiency Exam. It is the test that determines if I am qualified to teach there. Please pray for me.

More to come soon!

Sweet Tooth Fairy

2010-04-02T20:46:00.003-06:00

After reading Stephanie Nielson's blog (see the link to the right) about the Sweet Tooth Fairy Bake Shop in Draper, UT...I am addicted.

Aubs and I went there on Thursday. It is such a cute shop. And the treats are addicting. I believe I will be frequenting this place. They will soon know me by name! I will take Erin there as soon as she gets home. She would love it!

My Latest Addiction

2010-04-02T20:09:00.003-06:00

I am addicted to sewing. I am not good at it. I can only sew straight lines. But that doesn't change the fact that I find it SO fun! Last night, I stayed up way too late making a car seat canopy for a dear friend. It turned out so cute. She got so excited for it. That made the sleep deprivation worth it! :)

Fabric choices

Putting it together

Up close

If you want to see it on the car seat, you'll have to ask my friend. If you want one for your own use, let me know. Sewing is therapeutic. And I need lots of free therapy. ;)

Attitude of Gratitude

2010-03-20T21:45:00.002-06:00

I know it has been much longer than the promised week since my last post. Its been a little crazy. I have no pictures to post tonight. Sorry! :(

10 Things I am Grateful For:

1. Motivation to continue my schooling -- This is something I have been praying for.

2. Car Insurance -- My car is getting fixed on Monday...again. None of this expensive repair job has had to come out of my pocket.

3. Good Friends -- Some I see more frequently than others, but its always fun to get together!

4. My Crock Pot -- Need I say more?

5. Feeling Beautiful

6. Holding a baby

7. Funny stories about kids who don't even realize that I think they are funny -- This is different than making fun of them. I would never do such a thing. But I do laugh at their adorable innocence and clever words. They bring joy to my life.

8. Education -- I wish I could make a bigger difference.

9. MATH -- I know that sounds weird. But it is a talent of mine, and I am proud to say that I enjoy using said talent.

10. Sunshine

I haven't posted in a while.

2010-02-28T20:41:00.000-07:00

Things have been crazy! Please forgive me for being a slacker. Watch for a new saga of a post within the week. Thanks for reading still...if anyone reads still... :)

Refurbished

2010-01-01T11:22:00.004-07:00

I haven't been able to sleep much the last couple days. So instead I've been coming up with all kinds of creative things I can do with my apartment. Here is this week's project. :)

I have been looking at Kitchen Carts since I moved here. I have little storage and many small appliances. For Christmas, my parents gave me money to put toward the cart I wanted. When I returned from a freezing but wonderful vacation to Rexburg, I found a spark of creativity for the old and ugly microwave cart that has been in storage since I moved here. The previous tenants left it behind. And now I think it is exactly what I wanted. We'll see if I still think that after using it.

First coat

New Hardware

All put back together!

I even put a robe hook on it for kitchen towels.
I got to use the drill my dad got me for Christmas!

Alaska Cruise: Day 3

2009-11-30T21:01:00.006-07:00

Please forgive me for the millions of pictures that follow on this post. :)

Day Three was our day in Juneau. This is the capitol of the state of Alaska, but you wouldn't guess it from our visit. There are no roads into this small fishing village. It is only accessible by boat and plane. We were there on a gloomy Sunday so there wasn't much going on. The pics are not in any particular order.

This sign was hanging in the Candy Store.

Waiting for a cab ride into town. Yes, it was cold.

Mom and Dad at our first meal in the actual restaurant. This place was a little too fancy for my tastes. The food was okay but the service was a little over the top. I much preferred the buffet. :)

The three of us kids waiting for our dinner seating.

I hurt my finger!

Mom at lunch. We ate at a great fish house in Juneau. We saw much of the ship staff eating there as well. That is how we knew we made a good choice.

Not too shabby for wearing my hood and coat all day.

Sharing a moment with the bear.

Alaskan Amber

Juneau's Main Street. It was a very cloudy day!

We were hungry.

What?!?!? Another bear?

BINGO!!

The bear at the state capitol

Back at the ship

Kristen and the Miner...He was very quiet.

Our ship is in the background...through the clouds. The beautiful blue building is the Juneau Mall. Yes. I am serious.

Broken Hearts

2009-11-25T09:43:00.004-07:00

As part of our Thanksgiving Break celebration, I showed The Last Unicorn (animated, copyright 1982) to my elementary aged students yesterday.

Buzz Lightyear was upset at first. He wanted to watch The Land Before Time: "Good Friends, Good Times" so he could sing along with the theme song. But he settled quickly and seemed to be enjoying himself, due much to Mrs. K's large offerings of popcorn.

Suddenly he stood up and walked out of the room, obviously upset. "I miss Mom," he announced. I quickly reminded him that Mom would be waiting for him as soon as school was done for the day. "20 more minutes bud" were my calming words and back to his seat he went, repeating "20 more minutes; 20 more minutes."

As the school day came to an end, I turned up the lights to discover a sobbing Buzz Lightyear.
"I miss Mom! I need Mom! The unicorn needs her mom."
I rushed him out the door to meet his mom. By the time I arrived at her car, he was already curled in a ball on the backseat with crocodile tears streaming down his face.
I explained the situation to her.
"At least he is feeling. That is a good thing."
Her patience always amazes me.

My heart broke for him. A few tears even.

I don't think that Buzz saw the end of the movie. He was too upset about the unicorn being taken from her family. He didn't focus long enough to witness their happy reunion. Instead his heart broke for the unicorn drawing that would never be with Mom again.

Alaska Cruise: Day 2

2009-11-02T20:46:00.003-07:00

On day two, I spent much of the day in my bed. We hit some very rough seas and I was quite seasick. But we got a few pictures!

Jared rocking out while watching TV.

Kristen pretending to be Mickey Mouse.

Whale Watching at 6 am. We were barely awake and quite freezing.

Our first towel animal. :)
We learned how to make these on the last day. Come visit me and you will get a surprsie on your bed!

Our seasick faces

The waves that made me sick....

The New Place

2009-10-12T21:16:00.004-06:00

The Entrance/Stairs

The Hallway

"The Barn"/ Laundry and Storage

Bathroom

Dining Area

Kitchen....No, I don't have a stove.

My Bedroom

Living Room
Second Bedroom/ Junk Room
(What happened to the days when I could manage with just a junk drawer?)
If you are ever in the area, feel free to stop by. I love visitors!

Almost Perfect

2009-10-09T19:19:00.001-06:00

New Apartment
New Job
...

Broken Car.
You don't realize how much you depend on your wheels until they are taken away.

Thank you to my many wonderful friends who are willing to drag my sorry self around. You are the best!

Buzz Lightyear

2009-10-02T18:23:00.006-06:00

As a recent BYU graduate, I was excited to be offered employment at a wonderfully private school in Draper, Utah. I prepared for the first day of school much like the kids did: new clothes, fresh hair cut, nervous butterflies in my stomach. Little did I know what this year would bring.

I teach at a school that provides specific educational needs for children that were not successful in other schools. Many of my students have some type of handicap. Be it mental, physical, or emotional, they all struggle to process the wide array of information being thrown at them in a typical school day.

One student in particular especially struggles. I'm pretty sure he is Autistic, though that really means nothing to me. I love him the same. But this week I feel that we finally made great strides. Buzz Lightyear DID NOT shoot my head off with a lazer. In fact, Buzz Lightyear ran to my aide when I missed his morning class. He was so concerned about me that I had to peel his small arms off my neck. I thought that might be enough. But before the long weekend, he almost admitted his love for me. "Miss Amber, I think I missed you."

Baby steps.

ALASKA CRUISE: Day 1

2009-09-27T11:27:00.005-06:00

I've been meaning to post on my cruise for many weeks now, but I was too lazy to download and sort through all the pictures. I finally got around to that. So here goes!

DAY 1: Friday, August 21 (We had sunshine!)
I had already been in Olympia with Des, visiting Shawn and Traci. So after Traci got off work on Friday morning, she took Des and I back into Seattle. We enjoyed a lovely lunch at the Sourdough Bakery and then headed toward the docks. My family had finished their drive in from Rexburg shortly before that and beat me there. Traci and Des dropped me off and the adventure had begun. :)

After checking my luggage and fighting through the security lines, I joined my family to get onto the boat. We sailed on Royal Carribean's Rhapsody of the Seas, which is a "smaller" ship. There were only about 2500 passengers, plus 1200 crew members. Of course, there was still much to do. Rhapsody of the Seas included a rock climbing wall, two swimming pools, four hot tubs, theater, casino, arcade, spa, etc., etc., etc. Even if that hadn't been enough, I rarely get bored when traveling with my siblings. They are just too funny.

Back to the cruise...

Once boarding the ship, we claimed our luggage again and went to our staterooms. Mom and Dad were next door and Kristen, Jared, and me shared the second room. Lucky for us our rooms were midship, right at the bottom of the stairs. We were on deck 2 (which was perfect for my sea sick stomach). Next came life boat drills and lots of food!

Enjoy the pics!

Our first view of the ship

Leaving Seattle

Lifeboat Drill with Kristen

Lifeboat Drill with Jared

Our Muster Station

I was very concerned about all the activities I was missing out on.

Our Stateroom
Kristen slept on the top and I slept on the bottom. Jared slept on the bottom on the other set of bunkbeds and our luggage slept on the top.

The Fam...minus Mom because she is taking the photo!

Graduation

2009-08-30T11:01:00.006-06:00

The day of graduation finally came! It was such a wonderful time. Much of my family was able to come and many of my friends made an appearance as well. I'm so grateful for all the wonderful support I have! On Thursday, August 13 I walked in University Commencement. It was so hot. The College of Humanities lined up in the parking lot of the ASB. Parking lots and hot summer days do not make for a pleasant smelling group of graduates. :) Minus the large blisters on my feet from new shoes, all was well!

Tori and I were bored.

Kym and I were melting. Can't you tell by my face?

Jamie and Tabby couldn't make it on Friday so they made the trip down on Thursday. Being the die-hard Ute fans that they are, they couldn't get by without this shirt. I'm surprised they didn't wear all red. It says, "Friends don't let friends got to BYU." At the bottom, they added a piece of tape that says, "Except Amber." I LOVE IT!

Amy managed to get work off so she could come too!I HAVE THE BEST FRIENDS!

On Friday morning I met my family at The Marriott Center at 7am. I got my seat assignment and we took some pictures. It was so fun to have them there! After all the pomp and circumstance, we took more pictures and took more pictures and took more pictures. Now that I have downloaded all of the pictures from all our of cameras, it appears that we took the same set of pictures about twenty times with different cameras. Oh well, at least this event is well documented.

My daddy and me

The siblings...and Randi. :) Group hug!

The fam.
I think we used this same pose three times before we decided to bring Kristen to the front. So in all the others, you can barely see her head behind me and Dad.

Kristen and Grandma. In the background, Dad and Brian Dowd are talking. I'm glad the Dowds could make it!
My mom and dad got me flowers!

After the graduation ceremony, my family and I went to The Center (where I work) and had muffins and chocolate milk for brunch. We hung out for a few hours; it was perfect because there was something for everyone! The majority of the group left on Friday afternoon. But the cousins from Arizona stayed through the weekend. We had so much fun partying like rockstars in Provo.

An intense game of spoons

Watch out for those Watsons...they cheat.

Sisters!
We wish the other sister could have been here with us too. Erin sent an email telling us that she had prior committments and next time I should send the announcements earlier. Typical Rin.

Graduation was wonderful. I have to admit that it was great to be the center of attention for a while. Thanks everyone for coming!

Graduation

2009-07-30T22:36:00.002-06:00

For pictures, click here.

The President, the Faculty, and
the Graduating Class
of
Brigham Young University
College of Humanities
Announce the Graduation of
Amber Elizabeth Sturm
on
Thursday, the Thirteenth of August
Two Thousand Nine
with a
Bachelor of Arts Degree
in English
Commencement Ceremonies will be held at
The Marriott Center at 4:00 p.m.

Convocation Ceremonies will be held at
The Marriott Center on
Friday, the Fourteenth of August
Two Thousand Nine
at 8:00 a.m.

33,000 CALORIES

2009-07-12T20:36:00.001-06:00

I'm watching the "I eat 33,000 calories a day" special on TLC. I'm never eating again. Its insane. I feel so bad for the people with this type of addiction. It has to be worse than anything else because you can't just quit and walk away. You must eat everyday or you will die. But if they keep this up, food will kill them anyway. So sad!

This is my life.

2009-06-26T23:41:00.002-06:00

Kristen's Graduation

2009-06-12T13:02:00.002-06:00

I went home to Rexburg for Kristen's graduation. I can't believe that she has graduated. That makes me feel so old. :) Jared only has two more years left. And Brian has been gone to Chile for almost a year. Time flies when you get old!

Amy came with me. I didn't want to drive 8 hours in one day by myself. Des would have come too, but she had to work. :(

Can you tell we're sisters?

The whole fam...Daddy was still in Europe with the BYU-Idaho kids. Mom came home early so she could be here. Erin and Brian are off serving the Lord. :) So its just us!

LOVE YOU SISTER!

Its a great day to be alive!

2009-06-09T20:08:00.002-06:00

I know I haven't updated my blog in forever. But life in the last semester of school is busy. And now I'm at work, so I can't upload pics. Sorry guys!

Things are going well around my neck of the woods. I got a new job working at THE CENTER in Provo. Its basically a teen center, but SHHH don't tell anyone I said that. "Teen Center" is a banned phrase around here. :) I work as the admissions clerk, which is basically a fancy word for receptionist. Its a great chance to get paid to do my homework. I also get free admission to any city rec center, so maybe I'll finally start that water aerobics class I've been thinking about forever. The Center is also a cool place for kids and grown-ups to come take classes. I'm thinking about taking a pottery class...HA! Me? And Pottery? That could be entertaining. :)

This term is almost over. As long as I pass my classes, I'll only have 6 credits remaining before I receive my bachelor's degree in English. I'll be taking care of those via Independent Study. Then its off to bigger and better things....what those things are, I couldn't tell you. I'd really like to get into the Alternative Routes to Licensure program, but the deadline is July 31. I'll be cutting it too close for comfort if I can make it at all. If that doesn't pan out, I've also been considering joining Teach for America for the 2010-2011 school year. I'll just have to wait and see where life takes me between now and then! The graduation ceremony is on August 14th at 8:00 am in the Marriot Center. You are all invited to attend. :)

I'm living in Payson. Sheila and Kimball Anderson have been kind enough to allow me to live rent free and eat all their food! That is such a blessing in my life. I have noticed a huge difference in my health...and my social life. But I guess that its okay because I need to focus on school right now anyway. I can worry about socializing in about 8 weeks. Needless to say, its nice to have my own space. And the king size bed and flat screen tv don't hurt either!

I'm so grateful for the many good friends I have and for my Heavenly Father. I wouldn't have made it this far in my education without your love and support. Please let me know what I can do to return the favor.

I AM still alive! :)

2009-05-12T20:05:00.003-06:00

It has been forever since I've posted on this here blog of mine. I must be busy or something. I keep reading the posts of all those I love and wishing I was as creative and consistent as they are. But I'm not. So love me anyway. :)

There has been so much going on in my life. I've entered the last semester of my undergraduate career (I almost said college, but let's be honest...I'm going to grad school eventually...), moved (maybe again), went to the Mayo Clinic in PHX, AZ and was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, have become basically unemployed, sent my baby sister on her senior prom, and I'm still smiling!

So first things first, the last semester of my undergraduate career! ITS ABOUT TIME!!! Last semester I got the best grades I've ever had. Now remember I didn't say they were good; I just said they were the best I've had. It feels good to finish my classes and be only 15 credits away from walking. AUGUST 13 and 14. EVERYONE COME! So for Spring term (now until June 15) I have 9 credits...which feels like 18. But we'll survive. I'm taking an adolescent literature class, a critical theory class, and a contemporary american lit class. I'm learning a lot and trying to find the motivation to finish my homework!

I moved out of Riverside Condos into Foxwood II. I've been here for 15 days and I have also already posted my contract on the BYU website. This is not the place for me. Hoepfully my contract will sell and I can go somewhere else. I graduate in 86 days, then I can go wherever the wind blows. I am luck to have several good friends that have offered me a place under their roofs.

Last weekend, the first in May, I flew to Pheonix to go to the Mayo Clinic. I've been so frustrated with my team of doctors here in Utah County. I feel gross all the time and I can never find anyone that is able or seemingly willing to help me discover what ails me. My mother was kind enough to offer me her "free roundtrip anywhere" ticket and my wonderful aunt and uncle offered me a bed in their home. My aunt even took the day off to come with me to the doctor! YAY!! After a long day there and many tests...everything came back normal. If that doesn't make you feel crazy, I don't know what does. But the doctor determined that I have fibromyalgia. This is basically a chronic pain disease, with nothing much they can do for it. I am trying to learn to reduce my stress and get more rest (nearly impossible with my personality and lifestyle). It is nice to know there is a name for my pain. The tests were interesting. Let me know if you are curious and I will give you more details!

My job at the Tutoring Connection has become quite frustrating. They promised me many more hours than I'm getting, without taking into account that his might be a bad year. I'm barely making it, so I'm searching for something more consistent. Hoepfully I'll find something soon!

This last weekend, I went home to RExburg to get Kristen ready for her Senior Prom. I can't believe she is that old! My parents are in Europe, so it was my job to get her ready and enforce curfew. Of course, she arrived home as instructed.

I haven't taken or loaded any pics lately. That is one of my goals for the summer. So hopefully I can post some good ones soon!

Oh! The Drama!

2009-03-31T20:55:00.002-06:00

I have observed that getting ready for the day is highly overrated. I ALWAYS shower and do my hair, wear clean clothes, brush my teeth, etc. This week I got an email from my supervisor at work (I've been selling tutoring in peoples' homes.) telling me that I need to wear more makeup, wash/do my hair, wear more jewelry, and spend some money on nicer clothes or I'm not going to reach our sales goals. I feel that is a ridiculous statement to make. I also feel that sometimes getting out of bed is a HUGE step towards productivity in my days.

Things have been crazy around here. I finally got approved for graduation, found an apartment for my last semester, and a few interviews for a job for my last summer. Now I just need a teaching job for the fall and I'll be set. And after weeks of telling myself it would get done, my room has been dejunked (mostly) and cleaned. And it looks good!

Have a great week! I hope things are starting to brighten up for you as well! Please don't hesitate to let me know if there is anything I can do to make your lives easier. Its a great stress relief for me to be able to help a friend. :)

Just one of those days...

2009-03-03T22:15:00.003-07:00

Today was one of those days where nothing when horribly wrong, but nothing went horribly right either. I was feeling okay about it until I discovered things weren't as I had left them at home. Those that know me know that I don't appreciate the help of others when it comes to moving my things. I am a very tidy person; I don't need anyone's help in tidying (especially since the things being tidied didn't even belong to me at all...) Maybe I need to have a better attitude. But it was just one of those days.

Work went later than planned. School seemed to last forever. I didn't get any of my reading done. My fingers seemed to be like butter, and instead of offering to help, my roommates chose to laugh at my frustration. My clothes got dried...the ones I always hang up because they are barely long enough as it is. I can't seem to kick this headache and the doc can't get me in until Thursday. Those stupid stroke commercials have managed to make me quite paranoid.

And the carpet somehow magically cleaned itself today. Some warning would have been nice before the sopping wet socks happened to be mine on my quick stop home to change in between craziness. I need a new place to live and my dream job went dead as soon as I cut back to one source of income.

Sorry for complaining. I needed a vent source so I don't say something I don't mean to the people that I love. Thanks for understanding.

Still Feels Good...

2009-02-28T09:49:00.005-07:00

I took Kristen to the Rascal Flatts concert in honor of her 18th birthday (Yes she is that old). It was probably the best concert I've ever been to. I had no voice walking out and it felt like something was holding cups over my ears. I still have a headache. But it was SO worth it! Here are a few pics from our seats in the nose-bleed section. The video is the concert openin...it was explosive, literally!

DISNEYWORLD!

2009-01-24T17:04:00.004-07:00

Here are a few pics from my trip to Florida. Only the first few days...I haven't uploaded the rest yet!

Kennedy Space Center

Cole sucking his binky backwards!

Me and Emme

Disney Entrance

Right after Its a Small World

Do we look tired?

Let the fun begin....

2009-01-08T20:08:00.002-07:00

A few pics from Christmas:

Erin and Dad's delicious creme de menthe brownies.

Kristen and Jared, the dogs: Hurley and Lucy, and the crazy cat at the snow tunnel they built in the backyard. This is what happens when they move 3 feet of snow off your driveway and pile it in the backyard.

Kristen and I went to Temple Square for New Year's. We took this picture. We decided it should be a postcard.

Kristen said we looked hot. :)

Here is our beautiful Christmas tree!

Hello all! I hope your holidays were wonderful, as were mine. I was snowed in at my home in Rexburg, ID. Snow for 7 days straight makes it difficult to get anywhere.

Now I'm back in Provo and back to school. This semester is going to be rough! Fifteen credits+all english classes=lots and lots of reading and no time to process any of it. :) I'm taking a Book of Mormon as Sacred Literature class that I'm very excited about. I also have an American Drama class that will be exciting. A detective fiction class, english grammar class, and a Chaucer class round out my schedule. The Chaucer class is going be the death of me. Modern English is difficult enough; Middle English is a foreign language. Unfortunately the English Major Advisors don't see it that way--they still require a foreign language.

Good luck to all my fellow students!

WHITE OUT

2008-12-27T16:36:00.002-07:00

Since I don't feel well, this is how Kristen and I spent the day. We stopped judging time by the clock, instead using the number of "Flip This House" episodes we had watched. Daddy came in and asked how long Mom had been asleep. The reply was, "At least 2 Flip This House episodes." These are my favorite kind of days.

This is what it looks like outside. The sky, the air, the road....it all looks the same. I'm grateful for the water, but I can't wait until the snow stops.

Just for some perspective, this is the water spigot in the front yard. It reaches about to my hip (around 4 feet tall). As you can tell, its buried. There is much snow in this town.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

2008-11-27T13:58:00.002-07:00

This is what Thanksgiving looks like at my house. Well...not exactly. This picture is old and I'm too lazy to go find a camera and upload a new one. But the idea is the same. Dad is in charge. The kids are his slaves and we do as we are told. This year's threat was to eat cardboard if we don't help. Also the brother who appears to be about 12 in this picture is currently serving in Osorno Chile. There is a picture of him on the fridge and that is his only physical presence in the festivities. He is always in our hearts, minds, and prayers. We hope the mission president has arranged for some special rice and beans on this glorious holiday.

On this beautifully chilly Rexburg day, I am grateful for a list of things as long as days I have been alive. The sunshine, good friends, the Gospel, education, children, sugar, chocolate, Daddy's salsa, 7-up Salad, books, brains, missionaries, mission presidents, light at the end of the tunnel, etc., etc., etc.

I hope that all goes as planned and you eat too much. Remember that you have good friends who are concerned for your well-being and that there is a Heavenly Father watching out for you as well. With those kind of blessings, what more could a girl ask for?

Sorry Friends...

2008-11-19T20:38:00.003-07:00

Here is a really cheesy picture to show everyone that I'm still alive. Things are so crazy!

1--I work at Provo High School. I teach Algebra in a special program for at risk kids. Never a dull moment around that place. Some days I want to quit my job; others I want to take them all home with me. :) They've figured out how to work around No Child Left Behind...which is nice because I have a job, but difficult because I don't have the support I need. Oh well. We do the best we have with what we've got.

2-- I work as a private tutor through the Tutoring Connection. I help kids all through Northern Utah County "to be smarter than you," as Davis tells his 2nd grade friends. He wasn't always so excited to see me. :) I love the one-on-one and the light in their eyes when they finally understand something I've been trying to teach them.

3-- I go to school full time. I know; I'm crazy. Work and school full time? Yes,...its how I roll. I'm currently an English major. I"m going to be more crazy and finish my last 30 credits between now and August 14th, 2009. THen I'M GRADUATING. SO COME! I'm pretty much excited to finally be done with my undergrad. I am hoping to go to business school and get my MBA, as well as finish the medical transcriptionist course that I've paid for as well. Oh well, I can't do it all, now can I?

4-- I live in an awesome apartment with two other girls that I love most dearly. THey are too much fun!

5-- My brother just flew to Osorno, Chile for his mission. Erin just got her mission call to New York, New York...English speaking, reporting February 11. She can't wait! ANd Dad just got put in the Stake Presidency.

And this is why I rarely post on my blog. But I'll try to do better. I hope that all of you, my dearest friends, know that you are in my thoughts and prayers!

Just Another Day in Paradise

2008-09-30T21:02:00.003-06:00

Now don't get me wrong, I am a normal human being. I don't truly believe that everyday is paradise. But I DO believe that I can find paradise everday. Today reminded me of that.

After a not-so-gratifying day at work, missing my parents and my brother, Europe sickness, too much homework, WAY too much sugar, and serious sleep deprivation, I finally got out of my last class. I emerged from my communication free zone of the basement of the JFSB via the elevator. And what greeted me? Blackness. This is the first week of class that it was completely dark for my eternal stroll to the transport. Usually this would set me into "Flashbacks of Rescue 911 and CSI" mode. But not tonight. The evening was much to tranquil for visions of gunshot wounds and burning cars. So I tried to enjoy the walk. Now to do so without worrying about my eternal salvation, the plans for graduate school, my forever single status, my personal financial crisis, and my sleep deprivation is quite a feat. I came close enough tonight.

The smells of a summer coming to a close always remind me of Grandma Divinie. Similar to her name, she was a divine lady. Her rolls and homemade strawberry jam made me laugh. The fact that I couldn't think about the sound of the latest basketball game still gives me a headache. Her creaky old house that Great Grandpa built for $40,000 with his own hands was a place of memories and smiles for years. The one time I attempted to "go for a run" but just got distracted by all the people on the beach. The other time my friends borrowed my car while I stayed home with the grandmas and they got the car locked in the state park after hours. Dorks! For some reason, her house always smelled like it does tonight. Maybe it was the ocean; maybe it was the never-ending supply of Lilac Bushes planted during World War II. Maybe it is just the smell of future days filled with good times and good friends.

Whatever it may be, tonight I am grateful. For a beautiful camps and gorgeous stars. For the light of the bell tower to keep me safe on the eternal trek to the transport. For the professor that didn't make me want to die so I could appreciate my walk home. For the grades and assignments that can always wait. For the stars and the smells and the love of summer...past, present, and future. But most of all, for a Heavenly Father who loves me despite my enormous and pathetic weaknesses, despite the fact that I fall flat on my face time and time again. He still loves me enough to let me enjoy Grandma and her rolls and basketball forever.

I'm a little slow...

2008-09-25T16:25:00.005-06:00

So as I was reading through everyone else's blogs, I realized that I suck at updating mine. I don't really have much to say, but I did want to post a few pics. Enjoy! OH and my brother has been on a mission for one month now! Go BRIAN!!!! :)

Long Time No See!

2008-07-30T14:06:00.004-06:00

Goodness it has been a long time since I've posted. I'm such a slacker...but don't worry, I'm still alive!

This has been a crazy summer. I've been working on the inventory crew at the Home Depot. The hours are 4:00 AM to 12:30 PM. Yes that's right--there are two 4 o'clocks in the day. And one even comes before lunch! Its been pretty intense getting up at 3:30 in the morning. But its almost over...ONLY 2 MORE DAYS!!! This insanity has taught me a lot about what poor mothers go through. Its amazing how you can learn to live on NO SLEEP!!!

My brother got his mission call. He leaves for Chile on September 3rd. I will miss him! But I am so excited to see him go. I wish I lived closer so I could spend more time with him before he goes. If it was up to him, he would have been gone yesterday!

I'm so excited for school to start. I changed my major to English and I can't wait for my classes to start. And hopefully, I'll get the job I want at Provo High School so I can be done at the Depot. And soon I'll be done with my Medical Transcription course so I can start making the big bucks working less hours!

I got a kitty! Her name is Callie and she is a calico. She is a crazy little thing. I'm still not sure what I was thinking.

My apartment flooded last week. That was the most exciting adventure of the summer. Its always fun to wake up to inches of water where there should be none. But I think its all better now.

Well that is the update on my life. I'll do better about picturs and the blog now that I may actually get some sleep!

Small Miracles

2008-05-30T23:36:00.002-06:00

I work at the Home Depot. Most days I am surrounded by men and women who are doing their best to know everything. People can be unfriendly. But tonight I was reminded of the reason why little children, especially the ones most loves by the Lord, hold a special place in my heart.

A man and his wife came through my line to purchase cabinet hardware. I immediately noticed their little boy because he was so cute! He also happened to have Down Syndrome. His job was to hand me all the items in the cart. Since that wasn't enought to keep him entertained, he decided to help me scan. So I taught him how to scan and helped him find the UPC on each item. He quickly made it through their small pile and helped me put everything in the bag. Then he looked up at me with a big grin on his face and said, "Thank you!" I smiled back and said goodbye.

As he climbed out of the cart to ride home on his daddy's motorcycle, he came around my desk and gave me a HUGE hug! I returned his hug and asked him to come visit me again soon. He waved goodbye as he left the store.

What a needed reward on a day full of underappreciation! Thank heaven for sweet spirits like him.

Because I should be sleeping...

2008-04-23T22:37:00.003-06:00

Why not tell a few more Europe stories? Good times....

Looking at these pictures, you probably wonder what kind of crazy person I am. The day in Prague, Czech...I was pretty crazy! We had so much fun but by the end of the day, my feet hurt so bad and I was so tired that I think I got a little out of control. Here you will meet my friend Chuck. He currently resides on my dresser at home, probably covered in dust. But he was my best pocket riding friend that 10 kroners could buy.

You also see my pigtails. Perfect traveling do! Too bad my hair is too short for that these days. Good thing hair grows.

The sign about the stairs. I think those stairs almost killed me. An enclosed sprial staircase, all cement stairs, lots of people trying to pass you, too much rise and not enough run, no windows, bad knees....this is a perfect combination for disaster. I survived this staircase...but barely. The view from the top made it all worth it this time. Future staircases were not so spectacular.

And last but not least, my awesome panoramic shot of the courtyard at the royal palace. I was having too much fun playing with the settings on my new camera. And this one actually turned out pretty cool. Its amazing to think that people hand crafted all those buildings. You would not be finding me dragging those bricks to the top of those stairs. Once was enough for me, thank you.

Thank you

2008-04-23T22:22:00.002-06:00

As I was walking home from finals today, the bells starting ringing. Normally I don't even process the sound of the bells. It is just another sound that means I am home in Provo. But today the song got stuck in my head. "No toil nor labor fear. Happy day...All is well" How appropriate! Finals are over. I'm free from the stress of regular school for a while. Who cares if I never graduate? The trees are blossoming; the boys are on the field; the tulips are blooming! What more could a girl want out of life?

So today I am feeling grateful. For the warmth of a spring day, even when I can't see the sun. For good friends to call when the pressure of tests becomes too much. For parents that love me, even though I never come home to see them. For other friends, more like sisters really, who always know when I need them. For a car that sounds a little funny, but starts every time I need to go somewhere. For a job I hate, but I can still pay my many bills. For distant relatives who give me new opportunities to learn of my strengths. For an attitude of gratitude.

Friends

2008-02-28T19:06:00.002-07:00

Friends are a beautiful thing. Too bad we also let them get close enough to hurt us. It makes friends way less fun.

But here are the reasons why I am grateful for friends:
1. They continue to love me when I least deserve it.
2. They drop everything to come to my rescue when I just can't take it anymore.
3. They don't question my motives; they are grateful for my assistance.
4. They are selfless in sharing.
5. They want me to be happy.

So to all my friends, thanks for all you do. Whether we are still as close as we'd like to be or not, I am still eternally grateful for your impact on my life. I love you and always will.

Copenhagen, Denmark

2007-12-09T17:16:00.000-07:00

Pretty much, it was cold. That would sum up Copenhagen in three words. But what a beautiful city! We were able to spend two full days there; one of those to do whatever we pleased.

This picture was taken at the Fredriksborg Castle. We had just seen the Karl Bloch paintings of Christ. They are so amazing, but they are not displayed well at all. The lighting is bad and they are all crammed into one tiny room. But that did not change the spirit of them. Bloch did an inspiring job of depicting the Savior's life.

In Copenhagen, we also saw the original Christus statue. In the Church of Our Lady, it is not displayed in as much glory as in Salt Lake City. But the power is the same. To walk into a room and see the Savior with his arms wide open for you is a powerful experience. The afternoon we were there, an organist was rehearsing for his evening concert. The beautiful music only added to the experience. We were also given permission to sing "I Know that My Redeemer Lives." Those are moments I will never forget.

America the Beautiful

2007-11-22T17:23:00.001-07:00

Now that I am home, there are many things I am grateful for. This is just the beginning of a long list.

Friends and family who love me and want me to be happy and follow my dreams

Free bathrooms

Comfortable beds, especially my own

A car to drive, as fast as I want, whenever and whereever I desire to go

Music, in English, whatever genre, however loud

Wendy's

My brothers and their silly teenage boy attitudes

SCHOOL

Books

Freedom

An Income

Computers with free internet and keyboards I can navigate

Potatoes

A wallet and purse to carry things in

PARIS!

2007-11-20T09:44:00.000-07:00

Paris was exciting. We were there at the same time as the Rugby World Cup...and the metro decided it was a prime time to go on strike. So the day we arrived, the metro shut down. Adventure time!

Our first night, we went to Sacre Coeur. We managed to catch the metro's last train for the weekend so we didn't have to walk as far. The view from the top of that hill was impressive. You could see most of the city! We had some free time so I ate a lot of crepes. They just tasted so good! There was a whole block of artists painting people or the city. It was fun to sit and watch them.

We also went to the Eiffel Tower. There was a huge charity presentation happening with a man in stilts. It was the creepiest dragon looking thing I've ever seen. We sat in front of the tower and waited for the lights to come on. At night, on the hour, the Eiffel Tower starts to blink. It was pretty cool to see from the ground, but when we were on the tower, it was a little intense. We got to go to the top of the tower that night. It is so high up there! But it was cool to see the city in the dark. The walk back to the hotel was not so cool!

The next day, we tried to go see things but much of the city was shut down, due to the metro strike. So we went to Notre Dame and had the rest of the day free to wander as we pleased. Taralynn and I got lost, but it didn't really matter because we had nothing else to do! I got to take a nap that day. What a great hour!

Our third and final day in Paris was a little intense. The museums were able to open, so we saw most of Paris in one day. We went to Versailles early in the morning, then to the Musee d'Orsay and then to the Louvre. My brain just couldn't comprehend all there was to see and the amazing artists that put so much work into those things. Versailles was incredible. I don't see how one person could ever use so much space, in the buliding or on the grounds. My mom had been waiting for 18 months to get back there and go get the "best crepes ever." So instead of visiting the gardens, we went and ate crepes. They were pretty amazing.

The two paintings I wanted to see in the Musee d'Orsay were on the one floor that was closed. I was a little disappointed. The Louvre was so huge! I can't believe they have so many amazing things all in one spot. The Mona Lisa was a LOT smaller than I always pictured. But it was still gorgeous.

Overall, Paris is not what I had always pictured. It is gorgeous and busy, but not peaceful. I hope to go back someday, and maybe enjoy the experience a little more. :)

River Ribble Valley

2007-11-15T11:41:00.000-07:00

(There used to be a picture here of me and Mom and Erin...but now its gone. Watch for it!)

I was lucky to be able to go with my family. Sometimes they drove me crazy. But mostly it was fun to have them around...and sometimes Dad paid for dinner! We were among the few on the trip that didn't desperately miss home. We were also among the few that got to stay three extra days to see Preston. There were only 9 of us.

At first, I just wanted to go home. Everyone else got to go shower, do their laundry, eat at Wendy's, enjoy their own bed and free bathrooms. But we got on another train to another bus to another hotel and another day walking. I'll be the first to admit that my attitude wasn't the best. But I don't think anyone's attitude was good. Even Dad admitted that he would rather be home.

But we pressed on. Preston was so gorgeous! We saw the most beautiful scenery of the entire trip from the top of the English hills. We saw the little farms and little ponds where many of the first English saints were baptized. We saw the docks the immigrant ships left from. We saw the brick church that originally belonged to the United Brethern and became the first meeting place of the saints. It is now owned by the Church, but only because the saints raised the money and donated the building to the Church.

We hiked to the top of a huge hill and watched (for the second time) a man propose. That hill was a place of refuge and prayer for Wilford Woodruff and Heber C Kimball when the missionary work became too much. It was a place of refuge and prayer for us when all we wanted was to return home.

First things first...

2007-11-14T21:23:00.000-07:00

I always thought I had nothing exciting to "blog" about. But I also wanted to join the in crowd and tell stories about my many adventures. So instead I'm going to pretend like I have quite the exciting life...and talk about Europe!

This day was our only day in Venice. We had already been on the bus for an hour and the ferry for an hour...in the rain. But it turned into such a beautiful day! As soon as we got off the ferry and began our walk across the city, the sun came out and it actually got too warm for my jacket! YAY!

We didn't really have anywhere we were required to go in Venice. So we explored! I started with a Gondola ride. I really didn't want to go, simply because it seemed quite overrated and EXPENSIVE, but my mom was determined that I was going with her. Too bad she didn't want to pay for it too. I'll admit that it may have been worth the experience, but don't tell her I said that. Our Gondola driver was full of interesting facts about the city and its historic places. It did smell bad being down in the water with the dead rats and floating trash, but it was the best way to see the city!

I also saw the Glass Factory. My mom has been talking about buying her hand made Venetain glass for almost two years. I didn't realize it would be so pricey! But it sure is gorgeous. We walked in the factory and a man met us at the oven. He had a big blob of melted glass on the end of his stick. We watched him for about 5 minutes and listened to him explain the process of forming and setting glass. By the time he was done talking, he had made a vase. Then, just to show off, he turned a new glass blob into a running horse. A flick of his wrist and a wave of his arm and a horse appeared. IMPRESSIVE! I couldn't even afford a single earring, let alone a necklace or drinking glass. But I wanted to buy the whole place!

The rest of the day was spent exploring, shopping, and watching people. Of course I enjoyed a gelato while I watched people encourage the pigeons to land ON them by holding a cup of seeds in the middle of the plaza. Crazies! A few friends and I found a place to sit (not by the art gallery...we got in trouble for trying to sit there...) and enjoyed an afternoon in the sunshine. We talked about home and life and what got us where we are now. Life has an amazing way of bringing perspective.