Free Write

TETONS Training (Mini Synopsis) 

There was a lot of careful consideration that went into this and can only hope it will be an experience that motivates me to better understand the importance of healthy relationships. It has definitely been something nobody likes having to relearn over and over again, but it is certainly going to make an impact on my life without making me feel too uncomfortable. I am grateful for a chance to stretch out of my comfort zone & learn some of the tough stuff that is so crucially important to the disability population. I am not going into lots of details about this here and look forward to spending quality time with my colleagues, who are only going to make it an experience that I hope to never soon forget. 

Christmas Party 2023

None of the details have been worked out yet-- but I am confident we will have the best time hanging out with our friends. My mom and I have discussed about possibly meeting up with our friends for lunch and then coming back to our house to play games or watch a holiday movie!!! We are definitely going to share lots of laughs with each other and get ready for the Christmas season to arrive, which I know will be here- before we know it :) 

NINJA Alumni Game Night (Virtual Activity)

I legitimately thought these had come to an end after not having held one for some time, which if you ask me is not an understatement. I have genuinely missed being with my friends so much & especially after what I have experienced in the last year, I am more than ready or at least hope to be for a splendid evening of fun!!! I know it will be an experience to remember and crossing my fingers that anxiety will not get in the way of things for me.

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 May 2023 

I became an auntie for the third time and could not have been more excited!! I genuinely loved seeing the thrills from my niece and nephew who were ecstatic about having a new sibling in their home. I am truly grateful to spoil another little rascal that has brought so much joy into our lives--even before they arrived in this world!! 

April 2023

I was especially thrilled about our upcoming vacation to Texas and getting a chance to visit family who we have not seen in what has felt like forever!!! We explored the well famous Sea World park where we got to see shows of the water animals there and literally got thousands of steps in throughout the day. We took an incredible visit to downtown San Antonio and went on the super fun boat ride that takes you to locations-- on the river-walk trail. One of my favorite parts on this specific trip was visiting my cousins' home which is also a farm and loved every single minute of it so much!!! I really loved playing with my cousin's kids and enjoying their endless amounts of energy was nothing short of an understatement. We played a lot of fun games together outside and laughed till our hearts were tired--which I must say never quit at any given moment. 

November 2023

This month has certainly opened up new doors for me as I look forward to continue serving as the chair of a brand new committee that one of my governor appointed entities put together. I definitely have so much to learn along the way as I navigate my new leadership role in a position that will only make me grow so much more as a person in the disability community. I also had an opportunity to be asked out on two fun dates with a colleague of mine to attend their Institute class and participate in the "Lighting Of Riverwoods" festival last weekend--which I will admit was a lot more fun having never gone to an event like that before!!! 

This weekend I get an unforgettable opportunity to participate in the Orem temple open house that so many members of our stake will participate in. I am excited for another chance to be in such a quiet--- peaceful and holy place while ushering people who walk through in the right direction. I cannot wait to see the many smiles on people's faces as they enter into the house of the lord and getting that spiritually uplifting reminder of who we are in the eyes of our Savior, Jesus Christ. 

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Date Night

 LAST FRIDAY---One of my colleagues picked me up along with their good friend to attend the lighting festival at the Riverwoods. I was excited to have a kickstart into the holiday season and spending quality time with friends who made it an experience I will cherish forever. We arrived at the Riverwoods LONG before the lights were going to come on and luckily we were able to participate in the miniature countdown from ten till we got to the end!! Did I forget to mention the Truman brothers performed?? I am not at all familiar with their music whatsoever, but it was delightful to listen to them sing about the holiday season and reminding all of us what it really centers around. My colleague ended up getting asked to get some footage for them while they were performing--which I am positively certain was top notch!!! We had a lot of fun dancing to the music, laughing till our hearts were tired, had a very warm and scrumptious meal at Waffle Love to end our fun night together. I definitely have wanted to hang out with this colleague of mine for awhile, but the timing was never right for me or I would have some commitment unexpectedly come up out of the blue. Overall, it was the best night ever and one that hopefully can take place again in the distant future if we're lucky!!! :) Did I forget to mention that we also got our picture taken with the Truman brothers after they performed for everybody?? 

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Promoted

 Unofficial News: (New Leadership Role)

LAST NIGHT--- I received an email from one of my colleagues about a new leadership opportunity that I never had before with this governor appointed entity. I obviously could not pass up this chance to grow so much more as a self advocate and become a good board member. It has definitely been a long time when I last served in a Chair person role within the disability community and look forward to what else this new experience has in store, which I know is only going to help me further into where I'd like to be once all of my years of service conclude. I was able to run my first meeting today with the committee I signed up to serve on, which if you ask me went over pretty good as far as being in my new role since gotten asked 24 hours ago!!! 

Adaptive Needs Institute Class (Last Night)

One of my colleagues who I serve with on the speakers network invited me to participate in their institute class and I obviously took them up on the chance. It was so much fun to meet all of their classmates and learn about the gospel of Jesus Christ together for an hour. It certainly did not go without laughs or heartfelt thoughts being shared in regards to the lesson, which if you ask me was not anything of an understatement. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to spend quality time with friends and have a little extra boost of discussing what holds such a dear place in my heart.

Free Write

BYU Men's Basketball (Exhibition Game)

Our good neighbors invited me and my twin sister to attend the first BYU Men's basketball game of their season tomorrow night. I am excited for us to cheer on our favorite team to victory along with all the other energetic BYU fans who will be there in attendance. I genuinely have no doubt we will have the best time ever and not get home too late in the evening hours!! I have never attended an exhibition game before and so I definitely think we will be in for a treat this time!!! I look forward to watching how this game will end up and hope it is an experience that no one will ever forget. #GoCougs.

Other Updates:

Happy Halloween!!! I hope everyone is able to have a safe and fun Halloween. I didn't know what to dress up like for this year and then decided to be Wednesday Addams!! It was so much fun to be someone other than myself a couple of times and enjoy being with my friends. Our independent living center hosted their own Halloween party last week and it was so much fun getting into the Halloween spirit with everyone in attendance with us. 

We also celebrated our best friend's birthday last week and got to make homemade pizzas, drink some yummy apple cider, eat scrumptious cupcakes for dessert, etc. We definitely made an effort to not stay up too late into the night hours and ended up coming home after 11pm. It was a lot of fun laughing w/ each other and making memories that we will cherish forever, which if you ask me is nothing short of an understatement!!! We also skimmed thru Camille's scrapbook of memories with her family and

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Late Night

NEXT THURSDAY----My twin sister and I along with our best friends will be meeting up at Camille's home for a little birthday together!!! We are going to make mini homemade pizzas with various toppings and playing games or whatever else we decide to do with our time. I cannot wait for all of us to spend the night together and make some new memories that will last forever--which if you ask me is nothing short of an understatement. I will make sure to write up a mini update on this if I ever get myself around to it- but I cannot genuinely make any promises!! 

Happy Birthday Camille!!! I am so grateful for your friendship in my life and the unconditional amounts of energy you share with everyone is amazing. It has been so much fun getting to know what an awesome, fun loving, true, loyal and wonderful person you are and continue to be in the lives of so many people who know you!! Thank you so much for being who you are and making this world a better place!!! 

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Other Update:

This year in 2023 has given me a fair share of lessons to take close to heart and not worry about things I have no legitimate control over. It has reminded me about who I want to be and continuing to set a good example for others within the disability community to look up to. I have grown closer to my Savior, Jesus Christ as I have felt of his love for me and knowing that everything will be okay...regardless of whatever mistakes I have ever made. I am so grateful for my testimony of this gospel and knowing that I can always turn to the one who overcame everything for us, so that we could be here. He's recognized the faith I have to trust him in every situation that life throws me and not ever losing sight of what I can do better as one of his disciples. 

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New Presentation (Disability 101)

One of my colleagues reached out to me earlier this week about co-presenting with them on a topic that I have never educated people on before. I have presented with this colleague several times throughout my years of being on the speakers network and quickly responded with a YES!!! I am grateful for the chance to present with this colleague of mine and learn along the way, about how we can make our population an more inclusive for all people with disabilities.

Internet Safety Presentation (Early November)

LONG STORY SHORT--- This was the first presentation I ever did as the newbie on the speakers network and ended up talking a little too fast. Did I forget to mention the slides were out of order?? It was certainly awkward for me to not feel out of place or wish this could have been an easier topic to educate others on how important it is to protect yourself online. I can only hope for a good outcome and that everyone who will be in that classroom are inspired to help others do the same. This presentation is not taking place for a couple of weeks and yet I'm excited to refresh my brain on the importance with being self online as well as keeping yourself protected at all costs. I look forward to educating the students who will be in attendance at the school me and my colleague are going to present at. We'll have a lot of material to cover in short period of time, but I am definitely up for the challenge to do what I can to make this an educational training--none of those students will soon forget.

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