Bring on the SNOW!

So, this last week in the field, I saw more collective snow than I have ever seen in my life, and I'm sure that goes for most southerners I know too! I went into the field on Tuesday and there was maybe a foot of snow on the ground (still alot!) and that night it started snowing and didn't stop until saturday morning!!! That's right, no sun for 5 days! It is amazing the mental toll that takes on a person, and it was doing numbers on me. Thank goodness I was working with amazing people so we were able to laugh and keep our sanity as much as possible. Here are some pictures from the week, the biggest bonus is that the snow in Utah is very dry so it isn't the sticky wet snow that comes to us in the South, it is perfect for snowballs and snow sculptures, and doesn't get nasty very quickly....

what to put here...

I tried to find a bible verse that talked about how God puts wonderful people in our lives for a reason, the extent of my search was google, so maybe i didn't try hard enough...

I have made it official that I am leaving Utah in May, the 8th to be exact. And it has amazed me how much support i have gotten with my decision and i don't know why, but I am surprised at how much of a life I have built here in Utah. I guess because I am almost always on the go, it surprised me that when i slowed down that there are all these people who care so much about me. And if i wasn't so attatched to being close to my family then i could see myself staying here for a while in this world I have created for myself. But alas, family is who I want to be close to, and even though they are the driving force behind me leaving, it is already becoming hard for me to imagine myself leaving. Knowing it is the right choice doesn't make it the easy choice by any means. Keeping in touch through email and phone doesn't touch the bonds I have created in person and a part of me is fearful that those relationships are going to waver because of distance and that is something I have seen happen a lot in my life and I guess I am hopefull and fearful that they will hold up and know that there is a good chance that they won't, hard to admit to myself. It is hard to prepare myself to let go of certain friendships while i still try and get the last few drops of fun out of them. Soudns self defeating right? Just whats in my head at the moment, it helps for me to write it down sometimes and not feel so alone in my sad thoughts.

Ok, enough sadness for tonight. I'm going to try to go enjoy some time with a dear friend before heading out to the snowy snowy snowy desert (said snowy 3 times for how many feet we are supposed to get)

Thanks for reading!

Sleepy Ship

So, The sleepy ship is a couch, a very very comfortable couch that belongs to my friends Shad and Jp. Jp happens to be one of my closest friends here in Utah an older sister figure to me out here away from family. I spend a lot of time at her house on this couch and we usually end up chatting and then falling asleep...hence the sleepy ship.

I have decided to make some changes in my life coming up this summer and they will be taking me away from Utah and sad and happy thing. And something I will miss the most about living here is my friendship with Jp that has grown over the past year. Most recently we took a trip to Seattle to see the Titans and Seahawks play, it was an amazing trip! Jp has worked at Second Nature for 10, yes 10 years! So she has been a great resource for me and helped me develop into a better staff than i could be without her.

Anyway, I just wanted to post a little about JP so people back home could know a little more about her!

Christmas Second Nature Style

So, As many of you know I spent my Christmas in the field this year. I had major reservations about this leading up to the start of my shift, lots of tears on my part, lots of love from my family members. I ended up working in the girls group that I love and with JP and Erik, who are like my older sister and younger brother here, so I had the perfect set up going into the week. It was also an 11 day shift so that added some stress to the week. As a staff we brought a lot of fun things out for the holiday because it is really hard for those kids to be out there on holidays and keep doing their therapy and be missing their families.

I have to admit that I love Christmas Eve more than Christmas, all the anticipation is what I really enjoy, so I did a lot of my fun stuff on Christmas Eve. I had an ipod and speakers so we watched Charlie Brown Christmas, my all time favorite, then I read to them a book that mom got me, "A Tennessee Night Before Christmas" I of course cried on the last line, "Good night Tennessee, I wish I could Stay". That night I stayed up late and made stockings from ziplock bags and hung them up in the canvas tent we were staying in. They had recieved letters from family and I put those in there. I really enjoyed doing that for the girls, so that they would have something fun to wake up to. They really enjoyed it I think. Ok, my battery is about to die. I know Ash is probably going to comment on me always cutting these short...I'm sorry dear sister!!! I might finish at the airport friday!! haha

Lazy Blogger here...

I should change the name of my Blog to the "Rare Blogger"

So, last blog was when I went to Green Bay to see Jay coach right? What has happened since then...

Yes, I just checked my calendar to see what I've done...I think there is something in the desert air causing short term memory lose.

Well, I have recently started Senior Development at work, which basically means I am training to be a Senior, or in charge of a group. It is a promotion, and a big one. It basically means that when I am out for a week with a group I am in charge, legally! eeks. So, I have to go through a few weeks of SD to be ready in the eyes of my bosses for the new challenge. I was talking to a senior recently and said I was worried because I hadn't seen a lot of challenging stuff and he told me that they aren't hiring me because I have seen it all, but because they trust me to make the right decisions when I am in a tight spot. It can be a stressful preiod for a lot people. My first week of it was indeed stressful and I was more tired than I have been in my 15 months with the company. I have the week off this week and will get back to it next week.

I also started and finished a book "A Year living the Bible Literally". At first glance I thought it looked sacraligious and didn't want to read it, then a friend of mine who is Christian as well had it and let me borrow it. So basically this guy who doesn't believe in God is interested in relgion so he decides to follow the Bible litterally for a whole year. It was an eye opening read and suggest it to anyone who at times questions what the Bible tells us. He is more respectful and open than I thought he would be and really enjoyed the book.

Ok, bad timing to start a blog, my flight is about to board....

hello out there

So, the internet is down at my house, so I'm at the local coffee shop for now...it is nice though to be out of the house. So, what to update on....I suppose I'll start with my recent trip to Green Bay to see the Lions and oh yea, my brother who is a coach ;) I left St. George on Saturday morning and was back by Monday afternoon, so a short trip that was worth it!!! I got to hang with Jay saturday night and we at Lombardi's Steak house, it was great food and we got to catch up on the past few months, just the two of us. Sometimes it is nice to sit and talk with my brothers one on one, and remember they are two men who have watched me grow up and have spent more time with me than most people. The restaraunt was really neat too, a lot of old packers photos, old timey music. On my way back from working out I ran into Jim Schwartz (our old d coordinator) and it was like running into a family member...surprise surprise, i got choked up! I have known him since I was 15, I was there the day his twins were born, used to babysit his kids and have grown up a lot around him. Jay later told me that he was smiling from ear to ear after I left...how cool! Bonds in the NFL are deep...that's for sure. I feel like I'm jumping around a lot, but stick it out...That night we watched football and then because we are old fuddy duddies, we went to bed before 11. The next day I made my way to Green Bay, a town that is similar to Shelby in size and excitment! I got there and it was around 41 degrees...cold for a girl who has been in the desert. I got in and went to look at the field and jay was out there...so I went and chatted with him for a while. I wanted to see him warming up his gusy so i went and got some food (with cheese of course) and found my amazing seats. I saw Jay come out and run across the field and the emotions that came over me were so powerful! I was so full of pride and joy for my brother! I got a picture...here it is.

The O-line warms up in the corner of the end zone, like dad's guys! So, I was able to get lots of pics of Jay, I put them up on my Facebook, but here is my favorite...

We didn't win, but our two best players were out...we play them again on Thanksgiving and i will be there too...we will get our revenge then! I had a blast with jay and getting to see a new stadium and check a state off my list too! Such a productive weekend! Next season Susan is going to come with me! cant wait!

To all my blog stalkers...

Does that sound big headed? Good, that's what I was going for ;) I'm writing from my hotel room in Green Bay, Wi after seeing the Lions play the Packers. It has been a while...pretty much because I am lazy not because of being busy! I think my last post I was in NH for Jess' wedding. For some reason, I have never been a dancer...WELL, that night, because of many things I'm sure I just boggied my little butt off! It was so much fun! I'll put a pic of that monumentus moment later on. After that I went home and got to LP Field 30 mins before kick off only to see the Texans win. it is reasuring to know that I still turn a special breed of crazy when things get close or rough. I guess that will always be in me. That Thursday I went to Knoxville to be in Cassey and Dylan's wedding that weekend. Their wedding was GORGEOUS, a total souther affair! I was able to get all gussied up, i'll add pics of that as well for all of you who have trouble picturing me in a dress;) After that I spent 7 great days at home soaking up all the time I could with my family and it was just what I needed! Ok, I need to get ready to go to bed, have a 6 am flight back to the desert...will add more later!