Field Trip

Utah State Capitol - Disability Advocacy Day 2026

EARLIER THIS WEEK----I particiapted alongside my friends in a full day of events that included a very important training with a scrumptious catered lunch provided by one of the governor appointed entities & not to mention that it was especially fun to visit with former colleagues. It was especially helpful to get an extra few minutes to settle ourselves into our seats and ready for what was going to be a very trenchenous day of information coming at us like a firehose. I sincerely appreciated that our training was held in a brand new building upstairs that had lots of space to move around & take a breather if we needed to have one during any given moment. 

Disability Awareness Rally (Mini Recap)

I was very hesitant about being involved with this part of the DAD events going on and not knowing what to expect in regards to the circumstances we are faced up against. However, I wanted to support all of my friends who are passionate about getting their voices heard and making sure our legislators know what we need to continue living in society. I was impressed with the number of participants we had there rallying alongside us and sharing their beautiful life stories that reminded me of why I want to make a difference for so many people like myself. 

Legislative Coalition for People with Disabilities (Reception)

I am not necessarily going to share much about this other than being around my friends and munching on refreshments that were provided. We were able to talk with our legislators about the funding request that I know is going to benefit us down the road and continuing services that are vital to me alongside my peers who attend classes at their IL centers on a daily basis. I really liked getting pictures taken with my friends and laughing till our hearts were tired which if you ask me was nothing short of an understatement. I am glad we were able to talk with our legislators who made the effort to come and listen to our stories that I really hope was able to resonate with them in some way. 

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Adaptive Needs Institute Classes (Spring 2026)

I am grateful for the opportunity to participate along with my friends in our adaptive needs institute classes several days a week. I truly love this gospel with all of my heart and know there is not even anything else in this world that compares to the blessings that have come from living it everyday as difficulties of life are thrown into my path. 

It's been such a wonderful experience for me to get away from things in the world and focus on what is really important in my life. I love my Savior, Jesus Christ so much more than words could ever possibly say and I am grateful for the direction, comfort, peace, unconditional love, joy he continuously brings in my life on a regular basis. I am so blessed to be one of his beloved daughters and knowing that no matter the obstacles that show up without notice he will always be there.

Night To Shine 2026 (Worldwide Prom)

This anticipated event is truly one of the highlights that me and my friends are excited to participate in every single year!!! We love getting dressed up fancy in sparkling dresses, wearing beautiful make up, among being treated like royalty and of course staying up way too late makes it an evening that we will never forget. I really do wish there was one of these events held in Utah County and not so far away in Ogden---but I am excited to once again be a part of a worldwide movement where people with special needs are celebrated for who they are!!! 

SNAP Activity - Lego Night (?)

I am not particularly certain if this will be the same exact activity we had last year or if it will be slightly different in one way or another. I am definitely looking forward to another unforgettable night with my friends that I have missed being around for some time and cannot wait to participate in more amazingly planned out activities with everyone!!! SNAP has significantly improved over the last few years and I am really keeping my fingers crossed that one of these activities will be a surprise for not only me but everyone involved which if you ask me is a whole different story. #IYKYK.

BYUWBB Game - Texas Tech (Two Weeks Away)

I am not quite sure what this unforgettable night has in store for us and yet I really hope that our team will come out with a successful win at home!!! I am really hoping to have a chance to visit with TWO of the young woman whose examples to me are second to none when it comes to perservering through life and remaining focused on what is up next. I really hope all three of us can get a picture taken with each other as well as asking their permission to tag them in it if they will allow me to.... but if not I am going to respect them one hundred percent for it. I really want to give them both BIG hugs shortly after the game ends and celebrating another BIG twelve victory if we end up with one that I know our team will do everything in their power to make it happen. #NewPostComingSoon. 

Game Night

BACK STORY:

My mom originally surprised me with four tickets to attend the season opener of the BIG 12 season of a BYU women's basketball game that was gonna be held at the Marriott Center. I was very excited to watch the team take on another opponent that I really hoped they would have been able to beat and yet I know it was not going to be easy for the team. I was legitimately hoping to run into two of my role models whose examples to me are ones that I am grateful to have in my life right now...especially since I have been just recently asked to serve in two new leadership capacities. I really wanted to visit with them for a little bit after the game was over but due to my emotions being all over the place I did not have the opportunity to make that happen---but I knew there would be another time. 

FLASH FORWARD TO NOW:

My mom was able to get the original four tickets exchanged that she had bought for the first big twelve season opener and ended up buying new ones for another game!!! I am keeping my fingers crossed with hopes that I will get a chance to maybe visit with those two young woman and getting to catch up on life with them a little bit. I am excited to have another opportunity to cheer my little heart out for the women's basketball team and dance till my heart is content with all the excitement it can handle, which if you must know is a whole another story!!! 

TWO AND A HALF WEEKS AWAY: (January 21st)

I am really hoping the BYU women's basketball team pulls out another BIG 12 win over the team as they compete against Texas Tech. I would really love to see the team continue to grow & advance the sport all of them are very passionate in wanting to get better with. I definitely want this next experience to be very unforgettable one and hopefully can get a picture with two of those young ladies if any of us get lucky enough to make it happen. I truly love watching BYU student athletes keep pursuing their dreams and maybe one day getting to play basketball on a professonal level somewhere overseas or going into other things. I am probably a little bit too excited for this home game and really making it an priority to keep myself together as much as I possibly can without drawing any attention to myself. 

NYE Plans

LAST MONTH-----I was anxiously waiting for the adult session of our stake conference to begin and just mentioned to my mom that I wanted tickets to a BYU women's basketball game. It was so much fun to see them compete three times last year and obviously didn't want to miss another chance to watch them play a sport they are so passionate about. If you have known me my entire life, I am very much a true BYU sports fan all the way and always love getting an opportunity to cheer them on whenever I watch them on TV or just even LIVE in person. 

LONG STORY SHORT----I was surprised with tickets to a BYU women's basketball game that will be held on New Year's Eve and obviously I ended up squealing inside my head with excitement. I am very estatic to cheer on our team who will be playing against a really good opponent and keeping my fingers crossed that we can pull it off in the end. 

I am especially looking forward to another reunion with my good friend Kylie Webster who I have greatly missed seeing for the last little while. I cannot wait to see her smiling face and maybe we can do our best with getting a selfie together I can share on social media with her permission. I definitely want us to bond a little bit more with each other and have some good laughs together which is always a must for me when running into someone I know. 

I am not positively certain that I will have an opportunity to run into Paisley Harding who is one of the new assistant coaches for the team and maybe if we are lucky enough to see one another, the both of us can have a selfie together. I am definitely not sure what will the night has in store for me and I know it would make me smile extra BIG just getting to be in her presence again. I also want to let her know that her example of being a leader has meant everything to me and will do everything I can in aspiring to one day walk in her footsteps. I am grateful for the confidence boost that she gives me when I need it at any given moment and letting me know that no matter the circumstances life throws at you, you can make it through with faith in your heart to not ever give up on chasing your dreams until you get them. I am probably going to be the most excited person in the room and dancing in my seat the entire time but if you know me well enough than it will not be much of a surprise whatsoever!!! #ICYMI

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Special Time

 Do you have room? 

This beautiful time of the year leaves me in awe and gratitude for the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. His role in my life has blessed me more times than I could ever put into words and feel so much love for him as we get into the holiday season. I have listened to this song on repeat several times throughout these last couple of weeks and I am so grateful for the message contained in the title... which if you ask me is truly something I need to think about more on a regular basis. 

Throughout the last couple of years, I have certainly needed to rely on the Savior so much more than I ever had to before and his love for me continues to bless me more than I probably deserve. He has given me comfort when I needed it most during the best and worst of times in my life, which I will admit is not something I am ever going to take for granted. I have definitely wanted to make room for him as I move toward a brand new leadership role that I know is going to impact my life for the better. I am grateful for the opportunity to lean more on him throughout this experience and recognizing his hand in all that I am setting myself out to do. 

As I look forward into the new year ahead, I sincerely hope with all of my heart to make room for the Savior in my life everyday and putting trust in him to assist me in everything that life hands me. I feel incredibly blessed to have the gospel in my life and no matter the circumstances I find myself in, there will always be someone with me to help me through it. 

"Do you have room for the Savior? And do you seek him anew?" Have you a place for the one who lived and died for you? Are you as humble as a shepherd boy or as wise as men of old? Would you have come that night? Would you have sought the light? Do you have room?"

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BYUWBB Game - Unforgettable Win!!!

I have been following the BYUWBB team on social media for awhile and always love seeing how their games turn out as their season moves forward. I am grateful for their dedication to the game that all of them love so much which if you ask me is nothing short of an understatement. I have loved getting to cheer them on from afar in the hopes of one day seeing them play in person before the season is over... which to me would be a dream come true!!! I loved watching their game today which at times was just slightly scary when I didn't know if it would head into overtime or come up short--but luckily with two seconds to spare one of the players made a basket and came out on top. I may know next to nothing in regards to the game of basketball---but I am excited to hopefully some time next year make it to at least one of their home games in person and cheer them on inside the Marriott Center!!! 

Christmas Story Express Night (SNAP Activity)

I am definitely looking forward to this unforgettable activity tomorrow night and ringing in the holiday season with my friends. We are certainly going to have the best time ever listening to Christmas stories and watching a little bit of the well known Christmas movie: "The Polar Express." I cannot wait to show up at SNAP tomorrow night wearing comfortable and cozy clothes while drinking delicious hot cocoa as we spend quality time with everyone who will be in attendance!!! I cannot wait to see what other surprises are in store for us throughout the night and maybe an unexpected guest will happen to show up as well---- I am not necessarily getting my hopes up about this at all but you get the idea here??? 

Adaptive Needs Institute Class (Two More Weeks)

LONG STORY SHORT----My institute teacher asked everyone about what we wanted to prior to heading into Christmas break and we all made the unanimous decision to continue on for another two weeks. I am grateful for this time of year to reflect more on our Savior, Jesus Christ and his life that he lived with a lot of love in his heart for everyone and his teachings about how we should live everyday has left a very deep impression on me. I am grateful for the example that he set for all of us to follow while on this earth and I look forward to the day when I can be reunited with him alongside my loved ones who have passed onto their next chapter in life. 

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Reenacted Stories

LAST NIGHT----My twin sister and I along with our best friends participated in a very unforgettable SNAP (special needs activity program) event that I know I will forever keep close to my heart. Everyone was divided up into three separate groups to reenact stories from the Book of Mormon and let me tell you it was such a spiritual experience that I really needed in the midst of a very hard time. 

AFTERWARDS----All of us gathered into the relief society room and watched as every one of the groups performed their stories from the Book of Mormon for everybody to watch. I did really like the creativity that went behind every single one of the stories and getting a lot of laughs and smiles from people who were in attendance. I was physically not feeling all too good while at this activity and literally doing my best to hold back teardrops from falling down my eyes. 

One of the most spiritual parts for me about this activity was walking into the cultural hall where it was dimly lit so you could still kind of see what was in front of you, but there was a big picture from the book of mormon projected onto the overflow curtains. At this time, I did not even have an clue about what was going on and noticed there were pictures of the Savior placed nicely on tables. I still didn't know what was happening while we patiently waited for everybody to get settled down and then the next thing I knew we heard this voice come on the overhead speakers quoting scripture. 

LONG STORY SHORT----One of the SNAP leaders arranged either through the church or Motion Picture studios to have an actor with a spotlight on him decipting the Savior. I felt the spirit testify to me in this spiritual moment that Jesus Christ lives and directs his church in these latter days. This actor walked out in front of everybody and asked if anyone that did feel comfortable with him blessing as well as healing us. I did not hesitate for a second as he walked up in front of me and my friends to perform this miracle, I hopped out of my seat to wrap my arms around him in this big hug where in that moment I had completely forgotten about all of the physical pain I was experiencing. I obviously was not healed in that moment but knew in my heart our loving Savior was gonna walk with me every step of the way and I know he will continue to do throughout my life. 

This whole experience was truly one of the most profound things that I had ever been a part of and knew that our Savior loved me more than I could ever describe into words. I also in the most gentle way laid my head down on his shoulder while everyone in the crowd out of the blue started to cheer and instantly began giving me a round of applause. I quietly said out loud that "This must be what Heaven is going to be like for all of us when we get there and I can hardly wait to meet my Savior when that day arrives."

In this very moment---I felt like the Lord was going to take me by the hand and lead me to where I needed to be on the covenant path back to my heavenly home. I knew in my heart that no matter the circumstances we are ever up against in our lives I am never going through it alone. I was able to have my faith in him provide me a sense of hope that he is in the details of just not only my life, but in all of the many lives of every single one of his beloved children. 

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