What a week!

This week has been fun, crazy, overwhelming, and super busy! On Monday, I made cake pops for FHE.  It was my first time, and baking them is way easy!  Decorating them is a different story!  You have to freeze them for a few minutes, then stick the stick into them with frosting or chocolate, and freeze them again.  Then, you frost them with whatever you're using, and decorate them with Oreos, sprinkles, I toasted coconut; and then freeze, again.  It took five hours!  They turned out really well, and they're yummy!  FHE was super fun, and that chalks up monday to being a really good day.

Then, Tuesday came.  I had a presentation at 1:30, I had just put the finishing touches on my stuff, and went to print them, and my computer made this horrific sound, and the screen was flickering gray and white.  It was 12:30, and I ran it over to PC Laptops, where they found it was a fried motherboard.  I had a breakdown!  Crying, and all!  Totally bawling my eyes out.  Needless to say, I have a new laptop, and they gave me the "please stop crying" discount :)  That took all day, and then we had an Evening of Excellence.

Wednesday was insanely crazy with getting other things situated for my rescheduled appointment, and a presentation I had to do on Thursday.  Then, we had another Evening of Excellence, and then I went to institute and choir.  I didn't stick around to visit at choir, because I had to put a slide show together for our leadership meeting, the next night.  With this new computer, I don't have many of the programs, I had on the other computer.  I didn't know what I was doing, or how I was going to do it.  It ended up coming together perfectly, and it was the perfect amount of time for the  song I had picked out. 

Thursday, I made it to the gym, finished my preparations for my presentation, and presented it.  I presented what I can do in home staging to a brokerage firm.  I got lost on my way there, and it was just in west Layton.  I was so dying, and then, they didn't tell me which suite they were in, just that it was on the second floor, so needless to say, I was late.  I think it went well, he said I'd hear in 2-3 weeks.  Hopefully, this will raise some business.  Then, I did everything I could to prepare for our leadership meeting that was that night.  Then, I went to a choir practice for 23 minutes before I had to be at our leadership meeting.  I'm so glad I was able to get everything done, and be everywhere I wanted to be. 

On top of all of this craziness, I had piano, too.  It was just constant business!  Friday, I did my presentation, and I think it went well.  I got to talk to two of my bestfriends in the whole world, which was great after all that went on!

I've discovered things about myself this week, like when I get nervous or feel a little uncomfortable in situations, I use my phone as a coping mechanism.  It's like a distraction from my nervousness, which, probably appears rude, or that I'm not interested in whatever the task at hand is, so, I'm going to not take it with me, to see if I can face my fears :)

Thankful for...

November is always a time to remember things we're thankful for, although, I think we should be thinking of things we're thankful for daily.  I'm not one to be following the people on facebook, with the daily "thankful fors" or your shoe size or bra color or whatever fad they're doing at the time. 
I have a sinus infection, and as I've said before, I have no insurance.  So, I've been living with this for about 2 1/2 weeks, but the pain in my teeth was getting to be unbearable.  I called my doctor's office, and he's out of town until next wednesday.  (I wish I was a doctor, he's been gone so much lately.)  Anyways, so they transfered me to the doctor that is taking his patients, and I left a message explaining what I had, and that I needed an antibiotic.  They couldn't find any record of me ever having a sinus infection, so they didn't think they could do anything, unless I came in.  Well, they ended up just calling in a prescription for me.  Thank goodness!  The reason they couldn't find any record is because my doctor hasn't charged me for the last two years.  He's an old family friend that we met through Collin's soccer team.  So, I have to say I'm so thankful for soccer in my life and the friends that I've made, because of it!

I'm, also, thankful that I was able to spend so much time with Grandma Mamie.  It's nearly been a year since she passed away, I can't believe it!  I'm grateful that Collin's kids got to know her.  Today Everett wanted us to all go down and see Grandma's grave.  What three year old would think of that?  It was so sweet!  Both boys kept their church clothes on so they'd be dressed well for Grandma.  I'm so thankful for them and for Addy.

I'm thankful to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints!  I don't know where I'd be without it. 

Temple Walk...

Wow!  Two posts in a week, I don't think that has ever happened!

Today our young women and young men along with adult leaders and some ward members walked/rode a bike (for 6 miles) from our church in Layton 22.8 miles to the Bountiful Temple.  I'm so amazed at all of them!  My mom walked most of it, too; I'm WAY proud of her!  I helped at a couple stations, and got to greet them at the temple.  A friend of mine asked me the point to this forever long walk (as Ford says, "It's like 2200 miles!").  I don't think I ever really answered, so I'm going to share that now!  Sister Dalton had talked (http://lds.org/general-conference/2011/04/guardians-of-virtue?lang=eng) about a group of young women that walked from the Draper temple to the Salt Lake temple, which happened to be about 22.? miles.  We immediately thought we could do that as a stake!  Our stake president had some questions, that we never really answered, so our ward did it, and now we have our answers.  So, next year, all of the young women in our stake are going to make this trek!  The walk to the temple was symbolic of our actual preparation for the temple.  You can't just go to the temple, and expect to get in.  You have to be prepared and have a recommend.  Our girls needed to remember to have the correct kind of shoes and have exercised enough to get up the 3.8 mile trek up the gigantic hill.  Life is like that.  Reading the scriptures, praying, attending church, following the  standards in the For the Strength of the Youth book, and doing Personal Progress are all things that help prepare us to attend the temple.  Of course, there are going to be hills and mountains to climb, big trials, but we can do it, by choosing what's right.  When we fall off the path and make mistakes, through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we can repent and get back on the path.  When we sin, our priesthood leaders (bishop), young women leaders, parents and friends are there to help us through.  Just like today, when people were struggling, there were people there to pick up kids and help them along, a nurse to comfort the blisters, Bishop Macrum to fix the bikes.  I loved seeing people helping each other, that normally don't have much to do with each other.  After nearly 8 hours, they were blessed by having a member of the temple presidency come speak about the temple, and say that as they commit to prepare themselves to enter the temple, that when that time comes there will always be those wonderful temple workers there to welcome them with open arms.  After listening to his sweet message, Pres. Theurer, in our stake presidency spoke, as well.  It was an amazing day!  Thanks for letting me be apart of it!

I'm so grateful for the temple in my life!  I'm grateful for the many blessings and miracles that I've witnessed in my life and in the lives of family and friends!  I'm so grateful that I'm sealed to my family, and that I will one day get to know my daddy, and one day, hopefully, I'll be able to be sealed to my own family!

Favorite Quotes of the Week...

I decided that I would share a couple things I heard this past week that I got a kick out of  and some things I just really enjoyed.  So here goes:

Q:  Do you want to wash your hands?

A:  No, I have dark socks on!

Me:  Remember to play with your left hand.

Student:  Oh, umm, no, I don't usually pay attention to that part. 

(And then continued not to play her left hand.)

Q:   What's the worst part of your day?

Ev:  Grandma didn't come scrape the parmesan off my spoon.

(For whatever reason, Ev was put out that he had a parmesan sauce on his chicken, and wanted ONLY Grandma Colleen to get it off.  Of course, she was at home in Layton, and he was at his house at the time :))  Oh, and this was told to me from Ev or Krystal to Collin to Mom to me.

At this workshop I attended on Saturday, it talked about Stepping Forward.  It was done by Kerry and Jill Shepherd.  She talked about the different shoes she has worn, and what they mean to her... i.e.  National Guard boots, combat boots for Afghanistan, pumps for Miss Utah.  Anyways, she said, "We're given many different shoes in our lives, but it's what we do with them that's important."  I really liked that, of course I would enjoy anything about shoes, but I totally loved that idea, because it's so true!  It's up to us to make those choices and decisions to get us where we want to go.

"The Lord sometimes referred to Joseph [Smith] as His servant, His son and His friend.  What's the difference?  Servants are required to work.  Sons are expected to work.  However, friends work because they want to." 

Forget Me Not...

Last night, I attended the General Relief Society Broadcast at our stake center.  I have to admit that I struggled with going, because I wanted to watch the Real game and go to this Improv night in Salt Lake.  I'm grateful I went.  I loved President Uchtdorf's talk!  He just has a way about him, and a way he delivers his messages that are so exactly what I need to hear!  I have loved his "Happily Ever After" talk (http://lds.org/general-conference/2010/04/your-happily-ever-after?lang=eng&query=Happily+Ever+After )  I know that talk was written just for me :)  It was exactly what I needed to hear at the time, and since then, I've read it often.

So, here is the link to this wonderful message!  Read it!  It's great for everyone in any circumstance!

http://lds.org/study/prophets-speak-today/unto-all-the-world/president-uchtdorf-reminds-sisters-of-five-things-to-forget-not?lang=eng

I started working with a trainer three weeks ago at the gym, and just had a realization yesterday...  When I got started, we talked about my diet, and have changed things up.  Because I was drinking so much Mountain Dew at the time, she said to cut down, but not completely.  Well, I've had very little, but some every once in a while.  Well, yesterday, I wasn't feeling very good, and knew that the cure for the pain is a mountain dew and a few ibuprofen.  So, I went to Maverick and bought an x-small mountain dew fountain drink.  Guess what has happened...  I didn't like it!  I was so sad!  I know it's the best for me, but I couldn't believe that in just 3 weeks, I am over Mountain Dew.  Proud of myself?  Yes! 

Missing people...

So, it has been 14 months since Grandpa Ross passed away.  I've been missing him SO much!  When I was packing for Snowbird, I started grabbing movies that he'd want to watch, without even thinking.  Needless to say Italian Job did not make the cut this year.  I don't remember doing this last year, and I know this was our second year up there without him.  A couple nights ago, I had a dream about him.  It was a really weird dream about me helping someone out at our Back to School Bash that's coming up this weekend, and no one came.  (Hopefully it wasn't a sign of things to come :))  Anyways, all of a sudden he was there sitting in a lawn chair, and I ran to him like a little girl, and said that I'd missed him so much!  We talked for a while, and he told me he loved me, and that he wasn't going to leave me again, and then right after that, he said he had to leave for a while, and he was gone.

It has been 8 months and 12 days since Grandma Mamie passed away.  I've been so grateful not to be driving behind the Apple Village bus.  There for a while, everywhere I went it was in front of me, and I'd just break down bawling.  This week has been interesting, though.  Yesterday at Maverick, one of her CNA's was there.  It was one from the place we had her in last.  (I can't even remember the name of the place, weird.)  She was the one who kept telling us it was going to happen any second, and to not go anywhere without the phone.  Seeing her made me physically sick.  Then, today, while playing the piano at McKay-Dee, her hospice nurse walked in, and I was so excited to see her.  It's so weird that so many people were such a major part of our lives, but are gone now.  It seems like we lost a lot of people, when we lost that cute little Grandma.  On Sunday, I'm playing a musical number in Apple Village's sacrament meeting.  We'll see if I can get through that without crying my eyes out!  :)

SNOWBIRD...

Every week 32 our family goes to Snowbird.  My mom and dad bought a time share up there when they were expecting me.  Lots of people make New Years' resolutions, well I make Snowbird resolutions.  I didn't have a lot of time to think about it this time, being busy playing with the kids.  I'm not complaining, I totally love them!  It was so much fun getting to see so much of their individual personalities.  Ford has the best imagination I've ever witnessed, and is always planning something!  Everett is so logical, and plays a tough guy, but really isn't.  Adelynn is a riot, and she knows it!  We had a lot of fun getting to slide on the Alpine Slide and the tram.  They jumped on jump houses and stuff, and loved it!  There were only two things I didn't do that I really wanted to, ride the Zip Line and sit down at the edge of the river and relax.  This time was the first time I came down the mountain during the week.  I came home for my institute class and went out to dinner with Amy.  It was great!  Next year we'll hopefully be able to get a new room.  The room we have had forever was perfect for Collin, Mom, Dad and me.  Next year there will be a new baby, and when I eventually have a family, there's definitely not going to be room for all of us!

Anyways~ back to my new goals... I'm not going to tell you :)  I can just say that I feel very happy about the future, not that I'm really knowing what that holds.  I can tell you that I'm going to step up on Designs by Pyper.  I've been slacking during the summer, so I've really got to get moving! 

One goal is to get past this dumb shyness of mine.  I've improved, but I have a long ways to go. 

So, I'm not very good at keeping up on this anymore!  What's gone on since the last time I was on here?

Birthdays...

Selling Grandma's house...

Here's Grandma's empty house.  This was WAY harder than I thought it would be!

Other things have been Daughters of Faith.  Going to one of the girls' camps.  Teaching piano, and still not having the summer schedule set with everyone's vacations, so every week is new.  (I even forgot some were coming at a certain time, and woke up 6 minutes before piano :))  Going to the rodeo.  ReAL!!!  Having a good time meeting new people and making new friends.  Spending lots of time with the funniest kids, EVER!!!  I'm sure there's more, but I can't think of it at the moment.  I can just say I'm having tons of fun and keeping busy!

New things I've done this week...

Remember how once I said I was going to try new things...  Well, I had quite a few things this week...

1.  Refinished cabinets

        2.  Sanded a front door and back door and refinished/painted them.

3.  Played Danishball :)

4.  Trimmed a tree (not decorated :)) actually cut branches off

5.  Used an electric trimmer on the shrubbery around the sidewalk, driveway, and porch. 

6.  Drilled holes in someones wall and hung some drapery rods.

7.  Got a CD that I recorded a while ago :)

Pretty fun stuff!

Yellowstone Lake!

Part of Yellowstone Lake was still frozen over, when we there a couple weeks ago.  So, we were standing at Fishing Bridge, and were able to see and hear the most incredible sound of ice pieces crashing into one another, and forming more ice crystals.  It was awesome!  So, I've tried to upload the video, but it's taking 10 years!  So, here are some photos...

Can't sleep, so I'm blogging...

On the mondays before I play the piano at the hospital I always try to get to bed at a decent hour.  Well, it's so not working tonight.  My mind is wandering and running so fast it's driving me crazy!  There's no way I'm going to play well in the a.m., and no way I'll have the patience to teach when it's time :(  I'm sitting in my comfort chair, looking for the comfort that will make me want to sleep, and it's no where to be found.  Don't you get frustrated when things seem wonderful, and then you catch a part of what someone is saying, and it changes the whole picture?  Anyways, I'm just rambling, because I'm so tired.  I'm sure everything will still seem wonderful in the morning!

June 5, 2010-June 5, 2011, and beyond... :)

I know this is not that big of a deal to others, but it is to me, so I'm going to write about it for a minute!  For complete details, you can look here.  I have been blessed tremendously!  While sitting in Sacrament meeting today, I thought back to where I was last year.  I was in an operating room, having a young surgeon trying things, that hadn't been done in decades, to save me.  It worked!  I know that he was guided by the Lord in doing what he did.  It hadn't been done since before he was born.  How amazing is that!

As I've contemplated what happened and how I can see the Lord's work in every step of the way, I am overwhelmingly humbled!  Everything in my life changed, everything!  I gained a greater appreciation for everything and everyone.  Small things changed, like my hair.  It used to be brownish-reddish, now it is black (not that you'd really know by looking at me :))  When playing with the kids, I frequently had to take breaks, due to having stomach issues.  Now, I get to play!  I love it!  I can sing better, because I can breathe deeper.  Bigger things changed, like I can eat anything, besides lettuce, and can go out to dinner and a movie without stomach issues, when prior to this, I would have stomach issues a couple times during each meal, and then not trust going to do anything else. 

I've gained a greater faith and a greater understanding as to why I'm here, and what lies in store for me.  I don't know what, but I do know that Heavenly Father has a plan for me! 

Last night Mom, Collin and I went out to dinner before going to the ReAL game, and Collin said, "Happy New Birthday!"  which is exactly how I look at it!  Heavenly Father, through Dr. Varela's hands, gave me a new lease on life, and I am beyond grateful for that!

Well, it has been another interesting couple of months...


Collin broke his leg in a soccer game on February 1st.  Mom and I were going to Vegas the next day, so we didn't go to his game.  All day long I felt prompted to go to his game, but it was at 11:10 p.m. and I couldn't imagine driving to St. George, after not getting home from his game until 1:00 or later in the morning, so I didn't go.  I physically felt sick about not going and wondered why in the world I would feel this way.  He'd played in millions of games, and nothing serious had ever happened, and I just kept ignoring the prompting.  I went to bed at 11:45 p.m., and at 12:03 a.m. the phone rang, and it was Collin asking us to come down, because he broke his leg.  Can I tell you how extremely guilty I felt?  When the Holy Ghost prompts you to do something, you're supposed to do it, and I failed.  It was so sad!  I felt horrible for him.  The field is in Woods Cross, so it took us 20 minutes to get down there.  By the time we got there, everyone had left him, and he was alone in his car in a scary parking lot.  We took him to the nearest hospital, which was Lakeview.  (We've had experiences with Lakeview before, and were sad we had to go there, but he was in so much pain!)  While Mom and Collin went into the ER, I went and got gas in his car, and got him something to eat, because he was feeling sick.  It was the strangest experience, I went to Common Cents on 500 W. in Bountiful, and it was like that scene in Cars when they're all sitting there counting how long the flash of the street light is.  I was the only person in sight.  It was so silent.  Anyways, his right leg was broken a number of times.  The fibula (if I'm right :)  the outer bone) on his right leg was broken in 3 pieces with little fragments floating around, the tibia was broken at the ankle.  He ended up having surgery with getting a plate, screws and a titanium pin.  Well, it didn't work, so he had to do it again.  So sad!  The guy that did this to him got a 2 minute penalty, when there wasn't even 2 minutes left in the game.  Look at this to see how the injury occurred http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/mls-suspends-mullan-additional-nine-games . 


Anyways, the good thing that came out of this, in my opinion is that we got to spend so much time together.  I think it was a great thing for the seven of us!  He's now doing much better and will be done with a cane soon (I think :))  He's enjoying physical therapy!


Mom had surgery a week ago, removing a tumor and parathyroid from her neck.  She went to the doctor in January to get an antibiotic, after suffering with a cold or something like it.  While there, the doctor said, "Oh, your calcium level is pretty high. You should come get that checked out when you're better."  Okay, so she had blood work done LAST year before she had her knee surgery.  Come to find out, elevated calcium levels indicate a tumor on one or more parathyroids or some kind of kidney disease.  In March sometime, she was diagnosed with hyperparathyroidism.  She had appointments with her regular doctor, an endochronologist, a surgeon and had huge tests done at University Hospital, where they shot her full of radiation and took pictures for 4 hours, and had bloodwork done nearly every 2 weeks.  She never seemed scared, except for right before the big test at University and then the night before her surgery.  Her surgery went really well!  Her surgeon said they took time looking for the tumor, but then realized it was in his nurses hand.  He thought he was holding onto the thyroid.  Kind of funny!  Her tumor was the largest he'd seen.  As soon as the parathyroid with the tumor was removed, miraculously (and I don't say that lightly) the other 3 parathyroids kicked in immediately doing what they need to.  It's amazing how our bodies are designed! 


She's doing really well, now.  She's still really swollen, but has better energy.  She worked all day, tuesday through friday.  She definitely needs this weekend to rest!


I've been keeping busy teaching piano and doing some design work, as well as crafting signs.  I'm looking for a boutique to sale out of, if anyone knows someone please let me know!  I currently have 21 students.  It keeps me pretty busy!  I'm loving life!  I started attending an institute class in Centerville, and have enjoyed it when I've been able to make it.  ReAL's season has started and I absolutely love it!  It's so much fun going to that!  I miss Grandma so much, and I still have moments when I feel lost, because I should be visiting her at the time.  I don't cry much anymore. 


Anyways...That's that for now!  Sorry it's so long!

Look what I made!

I've been attempting to try new things out, such as different crafts, drilling wood, painting, doing a bunch of DIY stuff.

Well, the other day I made Beef Ravioli's.  They were kind of hard (as in hard to chew, not hard to make), but  quite tasty!!!  (I took pictures to prove it :))

Things I am Scared Of...

I'm putting this out there, and hopefully I'll be able to get over my weird fears :)

Number 1...  Birds!  Giving me chills, just looking at it!

Number 2...  Now I admit this one is really weird.  All those tufts on the back of the chair.  Ick!

Number 3...This one is weird, too.  You see how there's a plant that's about to pop out all of the way...  It's kind of curled over.  The first popping out of the soil and then straightening out is icky!

There you have it!  I know, totally strange :)

January

So, I've been on a blogging hiatus.  I don't know why exactly.  I guess, I've loved everytime I look at my blog to have that picture of my cute little grandma on, and haven't wanted to not have her there. I miss her so much!

On January 7th it is Serbian or Bohunk Christmas.  We used to get together at Aunt Mil's house, with all of Mom's side of the family and celebrate it and eat Yugoslavian food.  We haven't for the last few, because Aunt Mil decided she didn't want to do it anymore, and Grandma wasn't able to do it.  So, this year, Collin decided he wanted to have it at his house.  Mom was extremely sick, so she didn't go, but she made sarmas (stuffed cabbage).  I made pogacha (round bread with money in it).  I'd never made it before, and I remember asking Grandma how to do it, but it's been a long time since then, and I'd never done it.  So, while I was making it, I was talking to her telling her she'd better intervene if I was messing it up.  It ended up working out just fine, although, it wasn't as round as the ones that Grandma and Aunt Mil made.  The kids got a kick out of this.  You pass around the bread and break off pieces of it, and if you're lucky you get a coin, and if you get a coin, they you're going to have a lucky year.  Other traditions include growing wheat grass.  We didn't do this, because I don't think we would've had this had Grandma still been with us.  We always have a blue, a red, and a white candle lit through the meal.

In general, I am not a New Years' Resolution maker.  The time that I set new resolutions is in Snowbird every August.  This year, I sort of made one.  No matter what comes up, I am going to make the best of it.  So there it is, out in the open.  I'm, also, going to step out of my comfort zone and try new things :)

THIS IS TURNING INTO A REALLY LONG POST... SORRY ABOUT THAT!

Another thing that happened on Bohunk Christmas, is that Collin got in a really scary car accident and totaled his car.  He was being watched over for sure, because he should not have walked away unharmed.  So, while looking for another car, he found one on Ebay in Houston, TX.  His plan was to fly down and drive it home.  He needed a buddy to go with him, although, he doesn't think he did.  So, I flew down with him.  He decided last friday that we were flying out at 7:10 a.m. on Saturday morning.  So, we flew off, having an hour layover in Phoenix, and landed in Houston around 2:00 p.m.  This place was an amazing!  They had cars I could only dream about, IF I KNEW ANYTHING ABOUT CARS :)  Can you imagine spending $109,999 on a used car?

We drove to some podunk town in Oklahoma, stopping first in Dallas for the best wings I've ever had!  We then drove on through the rest of Oklahoma, Kansas and into Denver on Sunday.  The strangest thing was that we never saw people.  Of course, while we were in gas stations and restaurants there were people, but just driving in little towns, there were NO people anywhere.  It was like Kansas had been evacuated!  We had so much fun, and we were safe the whole time, even in scary areas, we were guided on when to turn around.

While in Denver, we drove passed a building designed by Frank Gehry!  I've always wanted to see one in real life.  It's amazing!  I was thrilled, but we never got super close, so here's a photo that I found on line.  Crazy, but beautiful, huh!