Latest News

Fabulous Five (Christmas Party)

I am so excited to get quality time with my best friends this weekend & share a lot of laughs together, which if you know us pretty well--- there is never a quiet moment when we get ourselves crowded into one room!!! I cannot wait to keep celebrating the holiday season with them and have some unforgettable moments that will talked about for the rest of eternity. We are going to have scrumptious food and I am hoping we do not have too many sweet treats through the evening-- which if you ask me could either be positive or until one of us gets a tummy ache. #MoreAboutThisLater.

Last Week of School (Mini Update)

I returned back into the classroom in early September of this year and have enjoyed getting to help out the teacher in anyway that I can possible. I have definitely liked being around third graders and learning a lot from them once a week--which if you ask me is sometimes a mix of excitement along with not sure what there is I can bring to the table for them. However, I am grateful for this opportunity to do what I love so much and look forward to seeing what the new year has in store for me as I continue to learn new things every week. 

Mormon Tabernacle Choir - Christmas Concert (Friday Night)

It's definitely going to be an experience to remember and I cannot wait for the weekend to finally get itself here!! I know the spirit of this holiday season will be present in the conference center once again this year, which is going to remind me the importance of why we celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ and his perfect example that he set for us to follow. I do look forward to seeing at least some of the beautiful lights on Temple Square as well as the statues of the nativity that remind us what this time of year is very much focused on. #StayTunedForMore.

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Free Write (Continued)

Tribute - Six Years

When I originally posted about this multiple times before, I didn't necessarily think it would be shared in more than one post and yet here I am doing my best to not sound repetitive. I am grateful for my friend's life and the imprint he left on my heart during his short time on this earth, which if you ask me was more than I could have ever imagined. His unconditional love for people and remembering what is important in life has stuck with me long after he returned back to his heavenly home. 

Mini Concert - UVU Institute

I am grateful for the comfort and inspiration that music has brought into my life this last year. I know it has softened my heart during times when I needed it most and reminding me of who I am no matter how many mistakes I continuously learn from. I am especially grateful for the opportunity that I had to attend this mini concert inside of the gym at the UVU institute and feeling the spirit of my Savior, Jesus Christ-- come to me so strongly. It was such a beautiful concert that gave me peace of mind when I needed it most and helping me to remember who my Savior is on a regular basis. 

Answered Prayer

I genuinely have not been more thrilled for my favorite BYUWBB player to have the opportunity of a lifetime to work as one of the assistant coaches for the UVU women's basketball team. I had no clue or idea where they would end up a few years down the road, but I sincerely prayed they would be involved with basketball in some way or another if not at a high school-- it would most definitely be at the college level. I cannot even tell you how much excitement came through me as I immediately came across their newest story on IG and believe me, it certainly felt like an answered prayer in more ways than one. I am grateful for the example this individual has set for me and even though we have not had another chance-- with meeting each other again, I can only hope it will happen sooner rather than not at all. It has been such a delight for me to watch them grow into their element and knowing they have so much more to give other basketball players who are striving to be where they are one day!!! #SoExcited #Grateful #Blessed #Hugs

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Free Write

(SNAP Activity - BYU Men's Volleyball Team & Cosmo)

LAST NIGHT---The amazingly talented BYU men's volleyball team came to SNAP and to tell you it was an unforgettable night to remember would be an understatement. It was so much fun getting to meet all of the players, learn about where they were from and seeing their love for volleyball ended up being the main highlight of the evening. We also received some BYU swag from them and had the best mascot in division one college sports made a surprise visit for a couple of minutes!!! We loved getting our pictures taken with him and smiling from ear to ear, which if you ask me was pretty much the best thing in this world. I really appreciate all of the time, energy, hard work, dedication, and love athletes put into what they love so much while living the gospel of Jesus Christ everyday. 

Mini 2024 Year In Review 

Dream Come True - (February)

This unforgettable moment in my life is one that I am sincerely hope takes place again in my future is to be reunited with my favorite role model on the planet. It was such an incredible experience for me to be in her presence and still to this day getting that big hug she gave me without hesitation was truly one of those memories that is going to stay close to my heart. I genuinely want another chance to introduce myself and share a smile or two, maybe even some laughs while we are hanging out together. I may have blogged on this topic one too many times and have not gotten it out of my head---but it is definitely a moment that I can only imagine will be a lot better than the first one. #FingersCrossed.

Milestones (September)

I can hardly believe after this year concludes--- I have one more year left to serve on the UDDC and then get back onto the speakers network. I am grateful for the many lessons, adventures, experiences they were able to provide for me and obviously I could not have done it without the support of my colleagues. All of them have a passion in making the disability community a better place for everyone and educating me on the important things that individuals like me should learn. #ChangedForGood. 

(To Be Continued)

Mini Stories

It's hard to believe that another uplifting and wonderful semester of Institute has come to an end so quickly. I have genuinely loved feeling the spirit every week in our classroom and learning about how simplistic the gospel of Jesus Christ is, which if you ask me is nothing short of an understatement. I am grateful for the many ways that I have been able to think a little deeper about my so called life and just simply remembering of what our purpose on this earth is. I am truly blessed to be a part of the one and only church on the earth today, which is lead by our prophets/apostles who help us in striving to be like our Savior, Jesus Christ on a consistent basis. I know after what my life has been through in the last few years--- I have never felt more closer to him than during this year alone, which if you must know is just comforting in more ways than I can even say. I am grateful for the many heroes in my life who continue inspiring me to see the light and good in this world, no matter what circumstances I may be up against in life that they will always be there for me. 

Holiday Break Plans

I am looking forward to quality time with friends and family as the holiday season approaches, but if you must know I will most definitely get as much out of this Christmas break as possible. I am grateful for all the many opportunities that I will have to give back to others and remembering the greatest gift that we've ever been given is of course that of our Savior. I cannot wait to take extra time to reflect on the blessings-- that I have had or experienced because of the One who paid the ultimate price for all of us to be here right now. 

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Thanksgiving Break (Last Week)

It was definitely great to spend time with family and enjoy the blessings that we have been thankful for this past year. I really liked getting to unwind from the craziness of life and reflect on what is important during a time of the year that puts everything into perspective. I also loved getting to be a part of as well as celebrate my Grandma's 90th birthday with many friends and family who showed up to visit and make new memories. Did I forget to mention we saw the newly released WICKED movie with family?? I will not spoil too much in this blog post here about it, but I can promise that you will not be disappointed in what you are going to watch on the big screen. 

Back at UVU Institute 

I have genuinely loved attending my adapted needs institute class so much and feeling the spirit every week in class has made it even more incredible. I am grateful to learn from our inspiring teacher who continuously leaves an impression on me to be a little better and follow our Savior, Jesus Christ a little more everyday. It has blessed my life so much as I continue to navigate how I want to set an example of what my Savior wants me to become. My testimony has been strengthened tremendously throughout this semester and reminding myself that no matter how many mistakes I make, I know with all my heart that the lord will take care of everything else. 

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Mini Concert

 

EARLIER THIS WEEK----One of my colleagues texted me and asked if I would like to attend their choir concert that was being held at the UVU institute building. I obviously didn't hesitate to say yes and be there to enjoy a wonderful night of delicious food, music, and feeling the spirit as the choir members rehearsed & performed their musical selections. I was very impressed with their musical talents and dedication to making sure they sounded well as a choir, which if you must know left me in awe throughout the evening. 

I especially loved watching this choir perform a well known primary song that reminded me of how important it is to be a child of God and knowing what our purpose is here on this earth. As this song wrapped itself up, I ended with getting a slight tear in my eye and feeling the spirit over come me so strongly was an indescribable moment. The main guest artist was amazing and sharing his journey of coming into the restored gospel of Jesus Christ which if you ask me was pretty incredible--especially knowing that I had no idea what to expect from this. I am grateful for not only his musical talents but coming to see and recognize who our Savior is while pursuing a career in the entertainment industry, which I think is remarkable!!! 

(Stay Tuned For More)

Fall Break

This fall break has given me a lot of extra time with friends and being able to relax while doing fun things is certainly not an understatement. I am grateful that is beginning to feel like the season of autumn is upon us and we can enjoy the cooler temperatures outside, which is sometimes a wonderful thing if you ask me but that is a completely different story!!! 

I have really enjoyed getting to focus on other things that need my attention, which if you must know is all work related stuff but I look forward to seeing my colleagues. We always have a legitimate time with each other and try to get as much out of what we are learning from our group discussions. I legit want to soak in every moment that I can with these people until my final council term is up, which if I must say will come and go before I know it. 

Inspiring Story (Mini Edition)

I am not necessarily going into the details here about this, but I am someone who does not like to ask for help when it comes to pretty much anything unless it gets to a point where I am lost with what to do. I am certainly not one of those who likes to bug people when it comes to anything and yet I know it makes me want to be a stronger person than I ever could have imagined. It was so inspiring to learn a little bit more about what this friend of mine has had to go through in order to get to where they are, which I am certain did take some asking for help but was able to grow into the person they needed to be. I sincerely hope that both of us run into each other again and I will be able to help her out in some way with anything she needs in the moment. 

Mini Shout Out

I would genuinely like to send a shout out to the UVUWBB team as they prepare for their upcoming season opener!!! I may not get to attend any of your basketball games at all, but I am excited for you ladies to compete against teams that I have never heard of before, (expect for maybe just one who is about a mile away from you.) I am excited for you to show everyone what you are made of & will be able to do as the season goes on... which I am sure will be more of an experience that nobody is going to forget. I would also like to send a shout out to the best role model on this planet who is one of their assistant coaches--all the best of luck as they begin an adventure that as one of their many fans could not be more thrilled about. I know they will leave an imprint on the hearts of every player, coach and fan who will ever get a chance to interact with them. #IYKYK. 

Podcast (Revised)

I am not particularly someone who listens or watches a lot of podcasts, but there was one specifically that I could hardly wait to see get released on YouTube. It was definitely something that I had not quite known was ever going to happen or let alone make me feel as excited as it did, but I knew somewhere in the back of my mind that having followed my all time favorite vlogger for almost three years-- I did not want to pass up the chance to hear their inspiring story. I was left in such awe over how professional and well put together this entire podcast was from the little snippets I came across on social media up to the real thing. I legit could not even help myself but think of the journey this role model has taken to get to where they are, which if I must say has been a dream come true for me!!!! I genuinely have loved all or if not every single step of their journey and cannot wait to cheer them on from the sidelines.

I am someone who knows next to nothing about basketball and yet have continued following Paisley on her adventures with this sport that she loves so much. I will never forget when I attended her amazingly legit senior night back in the middle of February in 2022 in the BYU Marriott Center and unexpectedly getting a teardrop all of the sudden rolling down my finger. I definitely felt there was something really special about her team during their unforgettable and stellar season, which I will admit I wished had a chance to attend more of those games. After the basketball game was over, I remember quietly talking with myself that one day I would get a chance to meet one of those players and that was the only thing I ever wanted to do for a while. 

This entire podcast was an incredibly heartwarming moment for me to watch and realizing what it has taken a former collegiate athlete from professional basketball player to being one of the assistant coaches for the UVU women's basketball team!!!!! I am grateful to be just a very small part of their journey has impacted my life so much more than I ever could have imagined. I am truly hoping to one day leave an imprint on the hearts of people whose great examples have inspired me to become a better version of myself to anyone I have an opportunity to interact with. 

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Tribute

SIX YEARS AGO YESTERDAY---Heaven gained one of the best people who ever lived on this earth and I am grateful to have had the privilege to know him. Josh was truly one of those people who despite his many challenges always had a smile on his face and inspired me to see the good in every situation. He was an amazing example of what being a kind person is and how we should treat others around us, whether we know them or not. It has been a long six years without him on this earth to keep a smile on my face and learn alongside the many independent living skills that have motivated me to get to where I am now. He continues to making an impact on my life everyday through his goodness in helping others to be a little better than they were when they walked into a room. His unconditional love for people in the disability community never failed to amaze me in more ways than one & the hopes to do the same for others who I may interact with in this life. He never once complained or made assumptions about the struggles that he faced on a regular basis, but never let it stop him from being as much a part of society like everyone else and I am grateful he was able to change the world through his small actions. 

#BecauseOfHim, I know my friend Josh will be resurrected to his perfect body and make an even bigger impact on everyone who chooses to accept the gospel of Jesus Christ. I know he is not anymore pain and continues to be an inspiration to so many people, which if you ask me is not even close to being much of an understatement. I know with all of my heart that he will live again and continue doing so much good on the other side of the veil, which if you must know is something I am certain he was anxious to get working at once he arrived in heaven. 

Thank you so much, Josh for being a part of my life and making me a better person than I ever could have imagined myself to be. I look forward to being reunited with you on the other side and giving you a really nice big hug!!! :) 

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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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Answered Prayer

Mini Back Story:

AWHILE BACK----My twin sister and I were heading to our institute class which is halfway across on the UVU campus, which if you ask me is a long ways to go but we have mastered it pretty good over the course of eight years. I remember quietly talking with myself about wondering where one of my favorite BYUWBB players would end up down the road & obviously I figured it would be something to do with basketball in someway. I have been diligently praying for this person that they would have more amazing opportunities to inspire others to follow their dreams, no matter what they may be. As you can probably imagine, I have continuously prayed for this incredible athlete to have even more great opportunities to assist others and if they were to ever to continue doing what they are so passionate about I would easily see them coaching basketball at the high school level or if not they would be doing it at a college hopefully in the state of Utah. However, during the past almost three years I have never stopped praying for them and only hope they will have more opportunities to make an impact on the lives of the many athletes they will meet. I was truly more than ecstatic for them when I came across their post on social media, which if you ask me is/was such an answer to prayer in more ways than one!!! 

In making this post brief, I was incredibly excited to have seen that my favorite athlete was officially announced as one of the new assistant coaches for the UVU women's basketball team!!! I immediately did not hesitant to congratulate them on this wonderful job opportunity & let them know they have my support one hundred percent if not more!!! I am not sure if heavenly father knew during that time, this was gonna be in the works or what he was doing to make it happen but I am eternally grateful. 

I genuinely cannot wait to hopefully congratulate this role model of mine when it is the appropriate time of course to let them know just how legitimately excited for them to take on this new journey. I am sure it will have a lot of memorable moments along the way and it is such a blessing in my life knowing even if we don't see each other for a while, I know in my heart they sincerely appreciate all of the love and support they are getting from so many people!!! I am truly stoked for them to be on the other side of a sport they are so passionate about and love so much, which if you ask me is not even close to an understatement. Did I also forget to mention they are the greatest cougar turned wolverine of all time??? I cannot wait to cheer them on from afar and watch their content about how much they are loving their new job so close to home!!! :)

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Tough Choice (Revised Post)

 

This quote right here could not be more applicable than at this time in my life. Lucky coming from the many memories and experiences that I was able to have while educating people in our community about issues that affect the lives of people with disabilities on a regular basis. Saying goodbye for at the time seems like an eternity, will only last for a very short time from something I dearly loved so much is a lot harder to swallow than I would have ever imagined, but with that in mind I am grateful for the peace that has come from my Savior, Jesus Christ throughout this brief period of transition. 

In early June of this year, my colleagues and I had just finished up our two day conference taking place at the Zion's technology center in Midvale. All of us had a wonderful time learning with everyone who was there in attendance about self determination among other topics that were being addressed. One of our main colleagues mentioned how some things were not in sync with everyone and at that point, I did not think too much about it. I knew in my heart that everything would be fine and to just keep myself as optimistic as possible. 

Without going into the details about this, I will just mention that due to some unexpected circumstances that were taking place behind the scenes---there was gonna be some kind of a bombshell dropping on us. I didn't necessarily want to see myself in a position that nobody should ever have to face in their lifetime, but I knew in my heart things were not heading where they needed to be. 

LONG STORY SHORT-----The next day after this news was conveyed to me and others, I got a phone call from one of my colleagues to check in with me on how I was doing. They had indicated to me with clarity about some things and little did I know what was going to come at me, within a few minutes after. I immediately felt this peace come over me knowing I could still be involved with this project on a voluntarily basis until things with our issue get resolved. I can participate in the well loved self advocacy conference representing the governor appointed entity instead of what I would be there for. It was comforting to know I would be able to present online sessions if they needed me, along with the truth of not getting paid was a lot harder pill to swallow than I would have liked. It obviously caught me and my other colleagues off guard with being told until our terms with the governor appointed entity are finished, we are not supposed to be involved with this project. Say What???? I was not expecting news like this at all whatsoever and wanted more than anything to change their minds, but I knew it was not going to happen for me let alone anybody else. I was crushed to hear that no matter what I could do in making this better there was no denying how much I had put into what I loved so much-- only to be told things were going to be temporarily put off until the situation is taken care of. 


(End Of Part One)

Favorite Song

 I made my choice.

You can mark this day. The day I pledge to take his name. I will be strong. I will be brave. Standing for him as I take my place. I felt the spirit burn truth in my heart. It's in my heart. 

And I will stand, I will not fall in a world that's weak I will be strong. I will be true, I will choose his way yeah, I know what's right and I will not change. 

In a world where so many will not, I will. 

I may be one but one becomes two when you stand with me and I stand with you, and as we unite our cause is great we're not just the candle, we are the flame. 

And I will take the light he gives me and I'll hold it up high, I'll hold it up high. And I will stand, I will not fall in a world that's weak I will be strong. I'll be true, I'll chose his way yeah, I know what's right and I will not change. In a world where so many will not, I will. 

I will stand, I will not fall in a world that's weak I will be strong. I'll be true, I will choose his way yeah, I know what's right and I will not change. In a world where so many will not, I will. I will. 

LAST NIGHT---I listened to this song performed by Hilary Weeks and could not help but want to write up about it here on my blog for all of you. I certainly love the message it gives us about standing with our Savior and reminding ourselves to be an example to those around us. I am grateful for the opportunities when I get to stand by him while on keeping on the covenant path. I have definitely gone through experiences with people when I had to stand up for what was right in a moment, when it was almost too easy to speak up and get the situation under control. Without going into more details about this, I love that this song here gives me the hope when I am an example of Jesus Christ---I will be able to overcome anything that life throws in my path. (To Be Continued)

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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. 

Summer Break

YESTERDAY----My twin sister and I along with our many friends who attend classes at our IL center took a field trip to Antelope Island State Park. I had never been there in my life and looked forward to hopefully seeing some animals which were only a couple of horses, lots of bison buffalo that were just roaming around in the fields nearby. We had an opportunity to visit a small village from the olden days and look inside of the historic sites, which were not too many but it was nice to see how they did things back then. We also got a chance to look at some of the farming equipment that gets used to keep a farm running smoothly, which was fairly interesting if you ask me!!

AFTERWARDS---We headed out of the park to have lunch some place and look out over the beautiful scenery. It was lovely to spend a little time outdoors and enjoy what the state of Utah has to offer, which believe me is nothing short of an understatement. I was able to get a couple of pictures taken as we drove around to see everything and did I forget to mention we saw bison crossing the road?? :) 

THS Marching Band (SNAP)

This was literally one of the best activities ever and I know it will be an experience that is going to be cherished forever!!! I genuinely loved spending quality time with my friends and laughing until our hearts were tired which is nothing short of an understatement. One of my best friends videoed themselves as they walked around the parade route and could not stop being silly the entire time, which was not a surprise if you know Camille well enough to know how much energy she loves sharing with everyone!!! I seriously wished those band members could attend our SNAP activities every week and make it extra special for all of us if you know what I mean??? :) 

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Busy Week

Advocacy & Provider Conference 2024 (Mini Version)

I am grateful to have had an incredible time being with my friends and colleagues at this advocacy conference earlier in the week. I absolutely loved being involved with this conference while doing multiple presentations in regards to celebrating self determination, getting around in your community, among other topics that were a little harder for me to process than others. Did I forget to mention about reading through the advocacy awardees bios during lunch time on the second day?? I also had a chance with singing "Happy Birthday" to one of the attendees after being kindly asked to do so and of course I could not hesitate to accept the offer. It was so much fun getting to laugh till my heart was tired, playing outdoor games with everyone, and inspiring other people to know that they are not alone. I have a deep genuine love for the disability community and loved making new friends while in attendance there. I am probably going on about this too much, but it was so much fun and an experience I will cherish forever if not for the rest of eternity!!!

Minus all of what I said earlier, this blog post should have been on here last week and completely forgot to publish it for some reason. I am grateful to have participated in this event while learning so much along w/ everyone about important topics that the disability community needs to know. It was such an incredible & wonderful experience to be a part of with so many people who are dedicated to making our world a better place. 

32nd Birthday (Next Month)

Still have not planned anything for this yet and not sure what will be happening-- but I know it would be a dream come true to have a birthday shout out from my favorite division one basketball athlete & spend at least a minute with them!!! #NoKiddingHerePeople. I would certainly love for that to happen and make my birthday extra special, but I also understand it is not possible in anyway either. I will be honest with you about this, is that spending quality time with my friends would mean the world to me and their presence is all I could ever need. #StayTunedForMore.

Extra Time

LAST MONTH---I ended up only writing one post on here due to the fact that I am not as consistent with blogging like I used to be and needed a break from this. However, it was incredibly relaxing to have time away and focus on other things instead of when my next blog post would get itself here. I especially found it rather nice to not have anything to worry about about for a couple of days and just enjoy the beauties of our earth in paradise!!! 

I would like to give a mini shout out to my favorite YouTuber in this world, (you know who you are) Thank you so much for the lovely post you shared today!!! I legit almost cried happy tears watching you spend quality time away & soaking in every moment you possibly could. I am forever grateful to have come across your channel 2 years ago and getting to know what an incredible person you are!! You are truly the best of the best and never forget it!!! :) #IYKYK. 

This summer has gotten off to a somewhat of a legit start and leaving me with opportunities to grow more as a person than I ever could have imagined possible. I will make sure to get back into this stuff once my life has settled down a little bit and I can actually share with you, things are or will be taking place over the course of three months. Please stay tuned for more updates to come and hopefully I can share more with you all in the weeks ahead!!! :)

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LONG STORY SHORT--- I am excited for the upcoming advocacy and provider conference that is coming up next week!!! I cannot wait to make some new friends and learn some things about how to become the best version of myself. I genuinely hope we have a legitimate turn out and can educate so many people on issues that affect the lives of people with disabilities. I am going to be fairly busy with being a room host occasionally while doing little odd jobs here and there, but I look forward to making this experience one that conference participants will not soon forget. 

Summer 2024 Highlights:

My twin sister and I along with our many friends are participating in our independent living center's summer program. We have opportunities to go to different places in the community while learning a number of skills that will help us be successful in finding a job at some point. We already had the 1st activity yesterday up at the national ability center in Park City where we participated in team building, which if you ask me was a little more complicated than I would have liked it to be. We got to eat lunch outside for a little bit and make some new friendships with the other attendees who were there, which I will admit was probably one of my favorite things!!! 

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Mini Hiatus

URLEND Update (Mini Version)

I ended up not getting accepted into the program and for legitimate reasons that I have so much going on as it is in my personal life. I did end up getting my name on the waiting list and unless a spot opens or if federal funding becomes available they will reach out to me. However, I am not particularly certain that my chances of getting accepted will be too great---but I am hopeful new opportunities come in my path during the course of time. I am grateful to have put my name in the ring and can only imagine what else lies down the road as I move forward.

Keynote Presentation (Building Together Conference)

I am so excited for this opportunity to speak about celebrating self determination and inspiring others in the disability community to know there is hope. I have only done this kind of stuff one or two other times which if you ask me was nerve-wracking, but also one of the most rewarding experiences that anyone can ever have. I am excited for a chance to educate more individuals about this topic and hopefully we have a very legitimate turn out of people who come to join us. I also cannot wait to get my groove on as soon as the conference dance party begins and dance my little heart out :) I know it seems very far away until all of this happens, but I am not gonna neglect having a good time with friends whenever I have a chance to get out some energy. 

As you may have noticed, I have not necessarily written up much on here for a while and can only hope for more adventures to come once this summer begins!!! I am confident there will be more fun things that I can share with you all and make an effort to be consistent in my writing abilities. I still cannot believe this school year comes to a close at the end of next week and hopefully can return back next year to meet some new students!!! #StayTunedForMoreLater.

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Extra Updates

I'm so grateful for the incredible semester that I was able to have in my adaptive needs institute class this year. I really loved spending quality time with our friends who were in class and being inspired by them every week--which if you ask me was not an understatement. We had a wonderful experience feeling the spirit testify of us every week about what we were learning and sharing our thoughts with one another as often as possible. I am so blessed to have the gospel of Jesus Christ in my life and knowing that no matter the focus of what I may be going through-- he will always be there for me. I have seen his hand in my life throughout this last year as I was able to overcome and feel his love, no matter what lesson I had to relearn multiple times over. 

Until the new semester begins, I will miss going to class throughout the summer months & learning about my Savior, Jesus Christ on a weekly basis. I am grateful to have been able to learn along with my friends who were in the class and hearing their testimonies of the gospel was inspiring. This semester has really strengthened my testimony more than ever before and given me hope for what it is to come in the future, whatever it may be. I have gained a better relationship with heavenly father throughout this semester and knowing he is in the details of my life brings me peace to my heart. I have realized that when I am clearly focused on him everyday that things are better and usually fall into the right place, when they need to. It's been comforting to know I am never alone and can always kneel in prayer at any time, whenever I need to tell him something on my mind. He has softened my heart when I felt one way about a situation & clearly made me realize that I cannot handle things on my own---but that he will take care of the rest. 

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(To Be Continued)

Next Step

URLEND Program (Unofficial News)

I am not particularly one hundred percent sure if my application will end up being selected to be a part of this leadership program. One of the many questions I completely forgot to ask is if they take NINJAs into something like this... which I still think may be up in the air for those who may not know what I am talking about here!!! I luckily have a lot more time to think about whether or not this will be a good fit for me or if things need to move forward with my life. I definitely hope that no matter the outcome or final results--my advocacy journey continues down the right path. I am grateful to know there is help along the way and that I would not be in this new chapter alone, which I could not be more relieved to hear. I was grateful to have had a chance to meet with one of the many people in charge of this program and learning a little bit more about what lies ahead for me is still kind of a nerve-wracking decision. It is without a doubt in my mind one of the biggest leaps of faith that I've ever taken and can only hope that it has ended up being one of those experiences I can look back on with a smile on my face. I am hopeful to leave a good impression on the selection committee about whether or not I have been chosen for a new leadership role in giving my all into an area of life that I don't feel like I have too much experience in. However, I would love to sincerely continue advocating for individuals in the disability community so much and not being afraid to let their voices be heard, when it really comes to anything they may need a little extra help in. I can only hope to also leave a good impression on the selection committee who makes the final decision about whether I am next in line or need to reapply for next year. (Stay tuned for more!!!) 

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LONG STORY SHORT---One of my colleagues recommended my name to participate along with others on this Utah MHIDD advisory board. I participated in my first meeting today which if you ask me, I tried my hardest to join on time but learned a couple of things about mental health awareness among other stuff that I could bring to the table. I am grateful for an opportunity to continue working next to my colleagues every step of this journey and learn alongside with them. 

BYU Adaptive Show Choir (Spring Concert)

I have only heard good things about what this show choir does and how much fun it is to watch everyone get out on the floor to either dance, sing a song or simply perform alongside their peers. The energy inside of the Smithfield House was electric and everybody was smiling from ear to ear, while clapping to any of the songs that were being played. I loved seeing my friends go out of their comfort zones to perform for a very large crowd with the biggest smiles on their faces!! I was very impressed with the variety of talents- that people in the disability community have whether it's playing the piano or another kind of a musical instrument. I might end up considering the possibility of doing this down the road or if I can find the time to make it work in my busy schedule, we will see what happens from there. One of the many things that touched my heart throughout this entire concert was one of the BYU students mentioned since joining the adaptive show choir, they were able to find out where it is they belong.

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Free Write

Hilary Weeks - Hero

Out of all the heroes in my life, I am truly grateful for my Lord & Savior, Jesus Christ and how he rescued me through a time when I needed it most. He was able to calm my heart and give me the reassurance that I knew was not going to come from anyone else other than him. He reminded me of who I am in his eyes & no matter how many more times I mess up, he will take care of the rest. I am grateful for the peace he was able to bring to my mind as I kneeled down on my knees to have a conversation with him and knowing he still loved me so much was incredibly comforting. He was able to provide me a much greater perspective on what I needed to do going forward & not just simply relying on what I thought needed to happen given the circumstances of my situation.

EARLIER THIS WEEK---My twin sister and I along with our best friends got ourselves together to make a card for one of our best friends who is going through a lot in their life right now. I am not going to share any of the details here about what has occurred since I last posted, but it was overall something we knew needed to be done. I cannot even describe how much of a blessing it has been for us to join together and hope our best friend receives the help they need to feel better. I am especially grateful that we were able bring some light into the situation that is taking place and know through our Savior, Jesus Christ things will fall into place.

It probably won't be in the papers

It won't be talked about in the morning news

And you and heaven might be the only ones

Who ever know all the good that you do.

You've never done it for the glory

You're not looking for fame

And you and I both know it's never gonna 

make you wealthy

But you give just the same.

At the end of the day

I can't help but wonder if you know

You're a hero

Quietly changing one life at a time

You may never know what a difference

You've made in mine

I hope someday you'll see

You're a hero to me.

You give everything that you have

And then you keep on giving

You always know what to say

And you know when to make us laugh

And when to let us cry

Your faith gives us faith

To the soul that is lost

To the weak and the weary

You're heart is a home

You're a hero

A friend to the lonely

A light in the dark

You may never know 

What a blessing you are

Maybe someday you'll see

You're a hero to me

We may not speak the words

But they'll see it in our eyes

They'll see it in our eyes

You're a hero

Quietly changing one life at a time

You may never know what a difference

you've made in mine

I hope someday you'll see

You're a hero to me

You're a hero to me.

As you can see from reading this post, I am blessed to have many heroes in my life who have provided me strength when I needed it the most and cannot thank them nearly enough for that. I know that each of our lives will have their ups and downs, but knowing how to overcome those hurdles with faith and courage to do better in all things. We may never understand sometimes the trials that we are handed to in our lives, but they will make us stronger and more determined than ever before. These last couple of weeks have not been easy for me or my friends, but we have definitely gotten through it together with each other's support to help us along the way. I am grateful to have them as my heroes among so many others who continuously make me want to see the good in life and never give up on the potential I do have my dreams come true!!! 

(To Be Continued)

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I have neglected to write up anything new on here for some time and wished I had more exciting stuff to share with you. It's been a fairly busy month with trying to prepare for things that are coming up and will be happening in the distant future, which if you ask me is a whole another story. I am definitely grateful to have more time on my hands to focus on myself and learn everyday what I can do better. I do apologize if this blog post doesn't make any sense, due to the fact I have not taken the time to blog about anything for almost a few weeks now. I have definitely taken a lot of time for myself to focus on other things and get prepared for what is to come in the distant future. 

Without going into a lot of details here, I recently applied to participate in a program that has reached out about recruiting self advocates multiple times to share their insight on how best medical professionals can work with people with disabilities. I may not have a lot of experience in regards to what this entails or if I will even be the self advocate they are looking for to be at the table, but we will see what happens once an official decision is made. 

Advocacy & Self Determination Conference (June 2024)

I have participated in this disability conference for a number of years now and always look forward to when it will happen again. I especially like getting to learn new things about how to improve myself in regards to self advocacy skills and pushing myself out of my comfort zone. I am not sure what kinds of sessions will be offered at this year's conference, but I sure hope to get as much out of it as I can without too much trouble. It is definitely one of those things that I appreciate has no age limit because with other conferences that I have attended over the years, it is hard when you have to age out of them because then you feel like as you get older-- there is always so much more to be educated on. I am not particularly sure what else this event will have in store but I am positive there will be stories to tell, laughs to share with all of my friends and an opportunity to continue my self advocacy journey with those I am grateful to work next to on a regular basis. 

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Dream Come True

LAST NIGHT---My dad, along with my twin sister and I attended the BYU Women's final basketball home game at the Marriott Center. It was such an incredible experience to watch two remarkable seniors leave all they had on the court while playing what ended up being the greatest experience of not only their lives, but mine too!!! If you have been following my blog for the last eight years or so, I have blogged about getting to meet a former division one basketball athlete whose YouTube Channel helped me feel happy as I endured through a time of processing what it means to understand that some mistakes just can't be erased. It was without a doubt in my mind, such a huge relief for me to have come across this young woman's social media pages and having my spirits lifted when I needed it most in my life. I genuinely cannot describe into words, how much of an escape it was for me to watch her channel and her simply reminding me to not worry about what others think or let alone not to take life too seriously. Once the fourth quarter was over, all I could think about while walking off the platform was to quickly run over and have these words come out of my mouth: ("I have wanted to meet you for so long and then quietly saying that I have seen her so many times only anticipating when the moment would come that I would finally get to meet her!!") Paisley quickly reacted with a genuine surprised look on her face, to which she did not think twice to not wrap her arms around me in a big hug after I am guessing someone she knew must have conveyed something or maybe it was because she notices all of my comments from her IG posts. Without even thinking about it first, my twin sister had to join the conversation I had so desperately wanted to have with her only to vent about the fact that I follow Paisley on social media. She kindly responded with: "Really?" I really wished we had gotten more time to talk with each other which I hope will happen someday in the distant future, because I had a lot more things that I wished I had been able to tell her. I was briefly able to tell her in a short hug that I look up to her so much and she sweetly replied with: "Awe" and looking at me in the eye with probably no idea that I was not making eye contact with her. #MaybeNextTime #FingersCrossed.

It was truly if not one of the sweetest moments of my life as we both got acquainted with each other & being able to hear from them how my comments towards them have been so sweet--touched my heart in more ways than one!! I am eternally grateful for their influence has taught me to always look for the positive in everything and not worry about others think of me, which I will admit put my faith to the test this past year--but knowing I could have my confidence boosted from this athlete kept me moving forward in life.


I may never be able to thank Paisley nearly enough for all that she has done to keep a smile on my face and remind me of what I am capable of doing which is not anything short of an understatement. I sincerely hope that both our paths will cross again sometime in the distant future and we can get to know each other a little bit better!! #PaisleyHardingSuperFanForever. 

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