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LATER THIS YEAR---I will have an opportunity to participate in something that I know is gonna impact my life forever. I am grateful to be able to do this with my colleagues on the speakers network & helping the new council members feel good about what they are getting themselves into. I don't necessarily have lots of details that can be shared right now, but I will make sure to post about this when I've got a clearer idea with how things are going to be. I am very excited to see what unfolds from this experience and just look forward to whatever happens along the way!!! 

Throughout my first three year term of serving on UDDC has been an incredible, rewarding, motivating & life changing experience. I will admit that this journey has allowed me to grow in ways that I never could have imagined were possible, which if you ask me is not an understatement. LONG STORY SHORT--- It has given me more opportunities to keep moving forward & not try to rework the past. I have continuously seen myself realize that the potential I have to do hard things and not worry about others think. I am truly grateful for the patience, unconditional love, support and kindness that my colleagues have never failed to share with me throughout my years of service. I can never repay them for their willingness to remind me of what I can do as well as elucidate things I may not quite understand. I especially loved the opportunity with being able to travel to Washington, DC to learn what other DD councils are working on and learning the importance of disability representation in literature, etc.

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Easy Choice

Where did those first three years go?? I can't even believe that my first three year term with the UDDC is almost coming to an end. How did that happen so quickly and not feel like I had just applied to be on this council yesterday. It has definitely been a rewarding experience for me to see first hand how valuable and important it is to share my opinion about things in the disability community, that either need to be fixed or immediately revamped in some way. I have grown so much in the first three years than I ever imagined--- which if you ask me is not an understatement. It has given me a lot of opportunities to travel to other states and learn more about what other DD councils are working on, which if you ask me is quite impressive as I reflect on the impact they want to have for individuals with disabilities. I am very passionate about being a good self advocate for others in the disability community who need their voices heard whether or not they feel confident to speak up. 

Serving on the UDDC has been nothing short of a dream come true!!! I didn't make it into the council four years ago, because I was involved with other leadership capacities and felt like it was the perfect route that needed to be taken so I could be where I am today. I am grateful to be a small part of something I can truly admit is a lot bigger than myself which if you must know is something I had always wanted to do. I am so blessed to continue serving alongside the best of the best and learning from them about what a true leader should be like has been amazing. I know there is a lot more for me to still learn and take away from this-- experience so I would love to continue seeing what other ways I can leave an imprint on the hearts of my colleagues. 

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Shout Out

 Happy Heavenly Birthday, Scooter!!! Thank you so much for being a part of my life for 14 and a half--almost fifteen years. You truly brought a smile to my face whenever I needed it most and made me feel extra special every time I was around. I am grateful that you taught me to have unconditional love and always see the best in every situation that life had to offer. Thank you for teaching me how to be a good person in this world and making others around me the exact same way. I love and miss you so much but know that you are watching over me everyday. I look forward to our happy reunion in heaven!!! 

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LATER THIS WEEK---I will be co presenting with one of my colleagues about a topic that neither one of us has ever presented on before. We are going to be presenting on the subject in regards to social security and work incentives for people in the disability community. I am hopeful things will run smoothly for us and we can make an effort to spread awareness of how important this is when it comes to living an independent life. I am grateful to have a few extra days to practice reading the script along with the slides I have to go with them. It's definitely paid off with being able to keep track of where I need to be and not over work myself too much.

It's always a delightful experience for me to present on topics that affect the disability community and being able to educate others about the potential we have to follow our dreams. I am grateful to have just recently hit the six year mark with being on the speakers network last month and doing whatever it takes to make sure my voice is being heard. 

Self Advocacy Conference (Two And A Half Weeks)

Nothing much about this as of yet---I can only hope to have an unforgettable time and learn some new things in regards to self advocacy efforts. I definitely look forward to making memories with my friends and doing all I can in my power to be an even better self advocate in the disability community. I can only hope to have an experience that leaves an imprint on my heart and continue growing more as a person in this community of people with disabilities. 

(To Be Continued)

Texas Getaway

My family vacation to Texas last week was certainly one for the books!!! I absolutely loved the pleasant weather we got to enjoy while being there and getting to spend much quality time with cousins was just a treat all by itself. It was such a delight for me to see where my cousins' families live and wow I never did quite realize what an unforgettable experience it would turn out to be. I definitely enjoyed all of the many sites and sounds Texas had to offer which if you ask me was not anything close to an understatement. I'd like to share with you some of the highlights from this vacation that I genuinely hope doesn't take all of my family another twenty years to do again.

Favorite Highlights:

- Sea World & going on some of the bigger rollercoasters was a lot more than I expected :) We also went to a couple of shows that you have to see to believe!!! I really liked getting to see my niece and nephew's excitement for some of the kid rides that I was able to go on with them. We had the best time ever getting to enjoy snacks at the park itself and learning about the variety of water animals that are currently at the park getting the help they need.

- Minus how incredibly popular the Alamo was in Downtown, San Antonio-- I really liked getting to learn about the battle that took place there and how many individuals sacrificed their lives to keep Texas what it is today was incredible. Luckily, it was not even that crowded with a lot of people and considering it was a day before the parade would take place. We also toured my cousin's dental office where he works & I can't even tell you how amazing it was to walk through as well as enjoy some delicious chocolate candy while being there!!!

- Visited the San Antonio Zoo and got to see a couple of animals who were there. It was obviously one of the hotter days we had but it was great to watch my niece and nephew feed a giraffe up close which was pretty cool to watch!!

- Spent quality time with my aunt and uncle who live in Georgetown, TX which is about a two hour drive from San Antonio. All of us were spoiled with delicious meals and treats galore which I'll admit was more than I think we needed, but none the less it was generous of our aunt and uncle to have nine of us stay with them.

Other Highlights:

- Poppy Festival

- Tour of Southwestern University where my uncle works :)

- Had a chance to meet my cousin's new puppies, which were adorable in more ways than one!!

- My cousin and his wife have a farm with three dogs, sheep, chickens, pigs, swimming pool and hot tub that I heard is really pretty under the stars at night, etc. I really liked getting to play with their five and energetic kids who never stopped to take a breather. We also played a card game that I was clearly not familiar with called: "Happy Salmon." I will admit that my cousin's kids were the real experts as it came to playing the game correctly and not messing up as much as I did. We also had a delicious lunch at their house and spent quality time being able to visit with each other. Did I forget to mention the part about one of the dogs chasing a chicken in the yard?? We also played baseball together which is one of those things that nobody in our family would think is fun and yet incredibly grateful that my cousin Amber encouraged me to participate!!! #LikeNoKidding #SoMuchFun.

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If my life were a movie, the name would be. . . (Journal Entry)

"My So Called Life." I'd probably want to share about my life's experiences living with fragile X and the many lessons I've needed to take away. I'd also include the ups and downs that have leaded me to where I am now. I think it would be important to help people in our community better understand who I am & how amazingly far I have come through everything life has thrown at me. I know it would be slightly awkward at times during this film for everyone to get an idea of what's it is like to be a person with an uncommon---genetic learning disorder and the ways I've been able to overcome it. My life is not perfect by any means whatsoever, but I have learned a lot with doing all I can to be a better person, self advocate, leader as well as mentor not only in our society- but within the disability community here in Utah. I may never at times--like what my learning disability is, but it has allowed me opportunities to make some of the absolute if not sweetest friendships with people who even though are different have so much to offer. I may never understand why I ended up stuck with something like this, but it has given me much more to keep learning and growing from everyday. I have definitely needed to put into perspective why things in life are not what we asked for but had to come to earth to be able to help others grow. 

(To Be Continued)

Free Write

Over the last couple of weeks, I have been journaling about random topics that have gotten my mind off things. They have given me a lot of unique perspectives on stuff and trying to do my best in making this somewhat of a high priority. I used to journal almost all the time until it was getting to be harder to keep my notebooks where they needed to be and they got torn apart easy. LONG STORY SHORT--I have just recently found myself getting back into this again and have quite enjoyed it more than I would have ever expected to. 

I am grateful for the many opportunities that I've taken to do much needed self care. I usually would think about this and never want to do much about it unless it was necessary in a time of anxiety getting into my path of where I need to be. I am definitely feeling so much comfort and peace from my Savior each day that passes on when I know things have felt more overwhelming than they need to be. I have been very much strengthened as I walk along this journey of life that has not always looked perfect-- but has just simply given me a chance to learn into the person I need to become. 

Some of these topics are:

My biggest fear that no one knows about is...

I wish I could invent...

If I could achieve only one thing in my whole life, that would be...

As you can see, this has allowed me so much unconditional love for myself and the advocate I want to be for others in the disability community. I may never understand a lot of what I am told from people-- but at the same time it has not always been easy to sink in either. I am definitely seeing a much brighter side of life than I have been able to see for a while and now I can only hope to feel reassured that all of this will be over soon. I have continued to remind myself that I can do all things with Christ and I know he will not ever leave me in a position that no one should see themselves up against. He has brought me a sense of confidence that I am stronger than I think and can overcome any trial that life throws into my path. He has guided me into the direction of my self advocacy that I need to be on and remember who I am in his eyes, regardless of what other people may think. 

He has allowed me to grow into the person I need to become and never lose sight of what his plan is for my life. I am grateful to him for answering my prayers and knowing that he will stick with me on every step of this journey. He knows that I am not perfect and have to allow him to walk beside me on what I know is going to benefit me more than I could ever imagine. 

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