New Update

July 14th, 2024 - Sunday Night

LONG STORY SHORT----After we had finished up with our birthday dinner, my older sister along with her family had brought over what my twin sister and I thought was a present. Little did we know about the picture at the bottom that was going to be an unexpected surprise for everyone!!! I cannot wait to become an auntie for the last time in early February of next year and look forward to seeing my niece, nephew and their little sister give unconditional love to a new sibling. 

July 17th, 2024 - Birthday Party with friends :) 

As I think about this and how much fun we had, it would be a complete understatement. We first decided to go bowling up at BYU for awhile and then went into bowl prior to the FSY kids making their debut in the bowling alley that night. My older sister and her three kiddos joined us for a game, which if you ask me made the evening a little more fun in my book. It was so much fun seeing them bowl their balls down their lane and watch them either get a strike or whatever it is you get when you bowl these days. I was not at the least bit surprised that our best friend's husband ended up winning his game, because he does go bowling on a regular basis. Shortly after that, all of us walked outside in the summer heat  a block away down to the old BYU creamery on ninth to enjoy a scrumptious cheeseburger meal that came with a scoop of ice cream!!! Little did we know it will end up being rebuilt back in the location of where the current one is in keeping up with the demand of so many ice cream lovers like me!!! 

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Solo Presentation

Granite School District - Fall Institute 2024 

I have never presented at this event before and look forward to meeting with the individuals who dedicate so much of their time, energy and hearts into teaching students in the disability community. I will be doing a mini presentation about celebrating self and continue spreading hope about how important it is to respect those with disabilities in our society. Lucky for me, I have a couple of weeks to practice through all of my materials and get prepared for an experience that I hope to look back on with a smile!!! I genuinely hope everything goes over well for me and there are no technical difficulties like what happened at the provider conference I was involved with last month. It is definitely going to be a treat for me to do this on my own without any extra assistance from my colleagues, which I am certain will be slightly nerve-wracking but I am up for it. #MySoCalledLife.

Random Story (SNAP June 13th)

One of our newest youth leaders for SNAP whose name I will not mention here, brought their yearbook to with them and I could not help but ask if I could sign it. I obviously went for it and wrote a very genuinely kind message to them, which I know is not going anywhere but you get the idea?? I also ended up giving this person a sweet little shout out on my IG stories and pretty certain they didn't see it---but I will for sure inform them about it tomorrow if we see each other!!! I had never signed a yearbook from the school on the other side of the tracks before, but I didn't want to pass up the chance to let my new acquaintance know that I am there to support them in anyway I can. I am grateful to always bring a smile to their face as we get to know each other when they come to SNAP on Thursday nights---which sometimes is a hit or miss for them and hopefully that can get fixed soon!!! Did I forget to mention I finally got to see my legit all time former division one basketball athlete's picture with the lady T-Bird Basketball team inside and just immediately squealed with excitement??? #LikeNoKidding #BestNightEver #LikeEver. 

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Disability Pride Project 2024 

After having participated in this two years ago, I didn't want to pass up the opportunity to do this again and luckily I was able to come up with a legitimate answer to the questions I had been asked. It certainly took lots of time for me to think about what to share with people and have a slightly better response than what I had given years prior. I may not know what disability pride means to me on a personal level, but I do know it is so crucial to let the community understand what this is about and that our disabilities do not define any of us, let alone tear us down into what society perceives us to be. This will be posted in a few days and cannot wait for everyone to read my answer as well as other participants who had an interest in being a part of this. 

Presentation Opportunity (To Be Determined)

One of my colleagues reached out to me earlier today and asked if I would be interested in giving a solo presentation about celebrating self determination at Taylorsville High School. I haven't made a decision about this yet and can only hope it all works out for the best. I have not done a solo presentation before, but I am definitely willing to do what I can in making this one a success--(minus the fact I will not have any colleagues with me is going to be a little nerve-wracking but I can put my best self out there.) I am hopeful this can be an experience that will not only happen more in the distant future, but allow myself with being able to grow into the self advocate I want to be. 

32nd Birthday (Just For Fun) 

I legitimately wish I was turning twenty three all over again & not the other way around-- which if you ask me is nothing short of an understatement. I am seriously hoping to have an unforgettable day with lots of smiles and excitement in the air!!! With all of that being said, I am excited to be reaching a new age in life and beginning more adventures that lie in my future. It is definitely going to be in hopes of being a day that I can look back on with a smile on my face and celebrating with those I love!! We will be getting together with friends two days later (due to one of them being out of town starting tomorrow into part of next week.) I cannot wait to share memories with everyone and laugh until our hearts get so tired that we have to quiet ourselves down!!! #LikeNoKidding.