Milestones

After this year comes to an end, I will have one more year left serving on the UDDC and then I legit plan to get myself back on the speakers network with my friends. I have genuinely loved the opportunities this governor appointed entity has provided me with over the course of time and learning new things with how I can become a better advocate, leader, mentor in the disability community. I am grateful for the memories that I have gotten to make with my colleagues and get out of my comfort zone when it came to things that I was incredibly blessed to participate in. I have definitely learned more about myself while serving on the council than I ever could have imagined, which if you ask me is nothing short of an understatement. I have needed at times some "tough love" from colleagues who just simply want the best for me and facing all of my scary things with a smile. I could keep rambling on about this forever and yet there is so much more to still learn along this journey. 

Six Year Anniversary (Next Thursday)

I have obviously blogged about this one too many times over the years and still cannot imagine how life has gone on without my good friend, Josh cheering me on every step of the way. His unconditional love for people was unparalleled to the light he was in the lives of so many people and continues doing on the other side of the veil. I am grateful that he was able to stay positive and upbeat regardless all of his many challenges that life handed to him, which I will admit he never once complained or asked himself why he was in the situation he was up against. He had the faith to keep his perspective on our Savior, Jesus Christ through it all was second to none and inspired my friends to do the same, even during our hardest times in life. I genuinely miss seeing his bright smiling face on a regular basis and having his energy in a room was always a treat I always looked forward to while attending classes at my independent living center. I am so grateful to know that me and my friends will see him again after this life, which I know will be a very legit happy reunion for all of us. - "Hear Him" - Youth Music 2022

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EARLIER THIS WEEK----I came across an inspiring story on social media about an acquaintance of mine who was feeling a little stuck in life and needed someone to pick them up, so they could get where they needed to be. This story touched my heart so much that over the last couple of days, I have not been able to quit thinking about my own experiences when I needed someone to help me whether I deserved it at that time, but was grateful to know I would not have to go through this alone. 

LONG STORY SHORT---I was participating in a class through my post secondary high school program who at the time would meet out at UVU once a week for an hour. On this particular day, I remember snow was falling down pretty hard outside and within a couple of minutes I realized my bus was not going to be showing up any time soon. I didn't know if I needed to walk home or simply wait till someone I knew saw me asked if I needed a ride. Luckily, one of my good neighbor friends who I was always so friendly to me did not hesitate to offer me a ride up to UVU where they were headed to take a Portuguese class out there so they would not forget the language they learned from their mission. In that very moment, I was grateful to know somebody was looking out for me and wanted to make sure I got where I had to be on time, but if you ask me it was nothing short of a miracle. I may have thought that I didn't need any help getting to my class on time which ended up being canceled after having waited thirty minutes and got myself out to the main bus stop before it arrived. I was certainly not in the kind of situation my acquaintance was in, but I would like to compare these experiences with how our Savior, Jesus Christ will always be there to crawl or save us from being out in a snow storm and get us where we need to be. I know that there will be more than once occasion in my life when I am feeling stuck and need assistance to help me along the covenant path. I am grateful to know it's cool to care about helping others and not being afraid to ask for it if some one wants to help us out--no matter the circumstances we may be in.

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(To Be Continued) 

Shout Out

Happy Birthday, Paisley!!! I may not know you too well, but the example you have set for me over these last few (almost three years now) has been nothing short of a dream come true!!! You have inspired me to see the good in those around me, never worrying about what others think and being authentically myself no matter what circumstances I may at times find myself in. I cannot thank you nearly enough for all of the ways you have impacted my life and given me a thousand reasons to smile, when I didn't know what to expect from any given situation I faced up against. I am grateful for your selflessness in making those around you want to be a little happier than they were when they walk into a room and I know for me that was very surreal in every sense of the word. I have never forgotten the big hug you gave me the second I determinedly walked up to meet you after attending senior night for two of your former teammates. I didn't want to wait another minute to finally meet the amazing young woman that has left such an imprint on the hearts of many people they have interacted with and I truly hope to do the same for you as we get to know each other. I am not sure when the next time we will run into one another is going to happen, but I can promise to have one of my nice big hugs waiting for you while sharing many laughs together!!! 

When I came across your YouTube channel two years ago, I was not quite sure if it would be awkward for a random fan like me to watch your videos and wishing every night on stars for two out of the last 5 years to finally get to share a smile and get a chance to meet the talented young lady behind the lens of their vlogging camera. I was a little hesitant at first with making the decision to subscribe to your channel, but after much consideration I immediately decided that I didn't want to pass up an opportunity to get to know you a little bit better. All of your videos have made me smile, laugh and just overall feel good about who I am and not worry so much about the little things. You are truly an incredible leader who I aspire to be when I grow up more often than I would sincerely like to admit. 

Even though I actually started following you after what I knew was a very heartfelt ending to your collegiate career, but knowing that you had so much ahead in your future made me only want to pray that much harder for your dreams to become a reality. You have inspired me more than once to recognize the potential I have to do anything that I set my mind to. I am grateful you have reminded me to never lose sight of what is most important while chasing my dreams and cannot thank you enough for being that role model I need in my life right now. 

I am incredibly grateful for your positively spunky attitude and looking on the bright side of everything that life has ever handed to you, which is something I can definitely work to get better with as the years go on. Your energetic personality can easily light up any room you walk into and even though we have only met each other once this year, I cannot wait to keep following your journey in a sport that you love so much and want to do the same for others is second to none. Thank you so much for inviting me to be a part of your journey along with all of your many fans that know and admire who you are not only as an athlete but as someone who wants to help others make their dreams of playing basketball something extraordinary!!! 

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