Basketball Game

LONG STORY SHORT----One of my good friends invited me last weekend to participate in this institute "INSPIRE" conference that was taking place at the UVU Institute building. I ended up not being able to make it to the event due to having been up late all night after an event that I had been a part of for many years and didn't feel an urge to getting myself up to participating in it. 

FLASH FORWARD----I ended up asking my good friend if he had ever been to a basketball game at the school he has been attending for a while now and I was not quite sure after having a random conversation about attending a sports event sometime, that I didn't want to pass up this opportunity since I kindly declined the offer. However, the both of us were messaging back and forth several times about this which I am grateful it was able to give us a little extra time to decide if this was a possibility for us to do together.

Mini Story:

I have been following the UVU Women's basketball team on social media since August of last year and didn't want to miss an opportunity to see how their season would turn out. I obviously have never paid too close attention to sports at Utah Valley too much and wanted to continue showing my support for my two favorite collegiate teams that I genuinely have loved watching play.

After I contemplated on this decision for some time, the both of us settled on attending the UVU b-ball team's final home game (which happens to be their senior day and fan appreciation)!!! I am so super excited to finally watch these amazing young ladies compete and hopefully come out with a win that I am certain would make their last performance on the basketball court extra special. I cannot wait to see my favorite youtuber and former BYU cougar in their element as one of the assistant coaches for the team who I have anxiously wanted to see coach in person for awhile now. I am really hoping we can visit with each other for at least a minute and possibly get a picture taken together that I can (with obviously their permission of course) to share on my IG stories reel!!! 

(To Be Continued) 

Repetitive Stuff

This month has certainly gone too fast and cannot believe another month is almost here in less than two days!!! I would like to share with you some of the highlights that this month has provided me with and I seriously hope to make a good impression as you read through these. (#Like4Reals)

UVU Institute Class (Adaptive Needs)

It's been such a delight getting back into a routine with things and having a chance to feel the spirit every week in class has blessed my life so much. I am grateful for the inspiring lessons that our teacher prepares for us and giving everyone an opportunity to share comments, while pondering on ways we can be closer with our Savior, Jesus Christ. I am so grateful for his guidance, direction, comfort, hope, strength, peace of mind, and the confidence he gives me every day to trust him with everything that has taken place in my life up to this point. I know he is always going to be there to provide a way for me to return back to his presence and giving me the courage to keep going after my dreams, no matter what they may be or look like. 

Best Friend's Birthday Party (Mini Version)

It was so much fun getting together with our friends and have quality time for a couple of hours together, which if you ask me was nothing short of an understatement. We enjoyed having delicious pizza, soda & watching our best friend Danielle open her presents, along with having ice cream cake for dessert. I also liked getting to play one round of croquet which if you must know none of us are professionals at (but we all had so much fun getting to hang out together and laughing through it all.) We even got to play a single game of bowling for a little bit and that was so much fun to see the lanes glow in the dark--as well as just getting one strike that left me with a smile on my face!!

Other Highlights:

BYU Gymnastics Meet

BYU Basketball Games

SNAP Activities (IYKYK)

As you can probably tell from all of this, this month has provided me with opportunities that was excited for and others that I know are going to help me grow into the person I need to become. I have a lot more still to learn along the way and look forward to what the lord has in store for me, next on my earthly journey. I am planning to return back on a project that meant the world to me for a long time and get back into advocating for my friends within the disability community, here in the state of Utah which if you ask me is something I have greatly missed so much. (More about this later)

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UVU Adventure (Part One)

LONG STORY SHORT----I have taken different routes to get to my institute class on the UVU campus several times and never had much of a problem with it until last week. I obviously kind of knew the main direction I needed to take in order to get to the institute building and yet found myself going an entire new way that I had luckily gone in the past---but still didn't know what I was doing. I really did not want to ask any of the students around for directions, but knowing the awkwardly social person I am sometimes, I was not necessarily brave enough to accomplish that task. I was incredibly relieved to have run into one of my friends who is in my class out in the hallway and ask them if I was heading in the right direction, which they told me I was and little did I know I would be getting myself lost on purpose. I was somehow heading towards the science building on campus and then for some unknown reason got myself in the Lockhart building which I am sure will be a new place that I hope to meet again in the distant future, if I am ever lucky enough to get over there sometime. I certainly did not let this experience ruin my day as I was without my twin sister who at the time was healing from an ankle injury that prevented her from being able to walk on her two feet for a little while. I definitely think this was something I wanted to do in order to see if I would spot my favorite YouTuber somewhere, which I knew in my heart was obviously not gonna happen in that moment because I didn't want to keep them away from their job and responsibilities that come along with it. Did I forget to mention that I got to see the life sized statue of the UVU wolverine which if you ask me is pretty legitimate but I need to stick with my mascot that I love so much and cannot wait to hopefully see sometime in this new year!!! #HintHint.

As the story continues, I was miraculously able to retrace my steps back and find a door that led me out to where I needed to be on time. I was able to find the institute building on my own and not have any trouble with finding the door to enter inside, which if you must know left me breathing fairly hard when I walked inside to sit down. 

I am not certain if there will ever be another opportunity for me to write in more depth about this and can hopefully make it without getting too confused, if you know what I mean??? I am grateful to have had my own little tour of UVU campus and seeing how much it continues to grow with more changes all over the place!!! I genuinely have to believe this mini adventure was nothing short of a coincidence to explore just what this amazing school has to offer and lucky enough to make it without anything too crazy going on in this whole experience!!! #ToBeContinued

New Events

Advocacy 101 Workshop (Two Weeks)

LONG STORY SHORT----I am not obviously a political person when it comes to attending stuff like this with my friends in the disability community, but and I want more than anything to feel peace in my heart when I walk into that room. I will be learning about how the legislative process works (which to me is a little more complex than I would like it to be, but I certainly hope to get as much out of it as I can without too much trouble on my end--if you know what I mean?? However, I do sincerely hope to come out being the kind of self advocate, leader, role model and mentor that the disability community needs to have represent them at the state level. I am obviously never gonna be the perfect advocate when it comes to disability awareness or much of anything for that matter, but I will do my best to make a good impression while making sure that my voice is being heard and not silenced in anyway shape or form. #IYKYK

One Month Away

No more about this other than February 7th cannot arrive soon enough!!! I am excited to get all dressed up, meet at my best friend's home while anxiously waiting for our hummerzine to show up and climb into as we listen to fun music, among so many other things. I am grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this worldwide movement once again and spend quality time with my friends, who I have no doubt will make it an experience to remember for everybody!!! We are going to have the best time ever laughing at jokes that will not make the least bit of sense and just simply having the best night with one another, which could either be a good thing or absolutely insane if we yet again have a lot of stares and smiles from people!!! 

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I cannot be more than excited to be a part of another worldwide prom event sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation and getting do with it my best friends will make it even more special. We are definitely going to laugh till our hearts are tired, drink sparkling martinellis in the limo, listening to pop music the entire way up to the event itself, getting smiles from random people who are driving on the road seeing us be as hyper as possible, getting a million pictures of us taken throughout the event, smiling till our faces hurt, making new memories together that will be talked about for the rest of eternity, getting our groove on the dance floor and just simply having the time of our lives for a couple hours, which if you ask me is pretty much going to be an all nighter!!! I am stoked to once again be crowned "Prom Queen" among the many hundreds of honored guests who will be attendance with us and look forward to hearing recorded messages from celebrities that we may or may not know!!! #February7thCantComeSoonEnough. 

Ambitious Wish

I am hopeful this new year has an opportunity for me to cross paths with my favorite role model on the planet and get to know her a little bit than I have already. She is truly one of the many people in my life who can put a smile on my face whenever I need it most and remind me that I can do anything that I set my heart on as I continue to learn to believe in myself. I am grateful for their example of keeping your head held high when life gets tough and never letting anything stop you from achieving lifelong goals-- that you have set out for yourself to do. #ItsPrettyLegit #iLoveThis #ChangedForGood #ItsTheTruth. 

Final Year - Two Governor Appointed Entities 

I have certainly learned and grown so much from volunteering my time on these two councils, which if you must know has been at times like an emotional rollercoaster that I cannot wait to get off from & yet I still wish time had not gone by so fast. I am grateful for the many people I was able to get to know just a little bit over the course of almost six years and learning how valuable individuals like me who live in the disability community are. I may never have come out as being one of the most "Perfect Colleagues" and somehow I felt in my heart that I didn't need to be someone I am not--which if you must know isn't what I had set out to become whatsoever... but I was at least able to give it my best effort. I am grateful for the many people who have strengthened me into the young woman I am today and can't even begin to thank them enough for their help along this journey. 

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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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