Misery in Yakima

I am currently battling the worst cold of my life, morning sickness, and scary spotting during pregnancy. It was miserable in Yakima being away from home and not in my own house. We are home now and I am still as a sick as a dog. I am hoping I am feeling at least a little better by the end of the weekend.

Pregnant

I am currently 6 weeks pregnant. We had our first ultrasound yesterday and they were able to detect a heartbeat! We are also leaving for Yakima today with Wesley's aunt and uncle. My anxiety is through the roof but that's normal for me. I will update.

Sick Again

I currently am battling another cold. I have gotten sick three months in a row. At least it's not too severe and there's less than a week until Yakima and winter break!

Happy Birthday Grandpa

It is my Grandpa Norregard's birthday today. He would have been 93 years old if he were still with us. I miss him so much and Leanna and I are celebrating today in honor of him.

Temple

Wesley and I did a session at Jordan River Temple last night and it was so nice. I am so happy that we make time to go to the temple even with our busy lives. When I was single and younger, I would go to the Draper Temple twice a week; once as a worker, once as a patron. It really just helps me not focus on my worries for a couple hours and refresh. We are going to the Orem Temple open house next month and I cannot wait to see another temple.

Thanksgiving

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. It will just be Wesley, my mom, and me. It is Leanna's year with the in-laws. I remember Thanksgiving growing up where we would have lunch with the Cressalls and dinner with the Norregards. I really miss them, but I am starting new traditions with Wesley as an adult. We are also having pie and stuffing bread with the Turleys this afternoon so I get to see the boys. It should be a fun weekend too. Katie is coming into town on Friday and Wesley and I are seeing the Savior of the World musical at Temple Square on Saturday.

Stomach Flu

Wesley and I both battled a nasty stomach virus Sunday night into Monday. Wesley got sick first and I followed in the middle of the night. I haven't had a stomach bug since 2019 so it was not fun. I also had to take Monday off of work which was a bummer. I always feel guility taking a sick day, even when I really need it. There was some lingering nausea but we are both safely recovered two days later. I hope this is my only winter season illness.

Grandparents Cressall

I thought I would write about the grandparents on my dad's side today. When I was little, I would mainly only see them at holiday parties at their house. They did babysit me a couple of times when I was really young, but I mainly just saw them at family parties. I always hated the family parties and did not really feel connected to any family members on that side. I think I was just so close to my Norregard grandparents that I never gave Lyle and Lee a fair chance. I appreciated them and talked to them more when I was older. I have also gotten closer to my aunts on my dad's side. They are both sadly passed on now but I will always remember them.

Jury Duty

For the first in my life, I had jury duty yesterday. It was the federal Third District. Jury selection was all virtual. The jury clerk gave us instructions and we took the oath. Then the judge, prosecutors, and defense attorneys introduced themselves and the case. They asked us questions that would reveal any bias. I made it into the top 19 jurors but ultimately was not chosen to serve on the jury. That was probably a good thing because the trial was for a terrible crime involving a minor. I wouldn't have wanted to hear the terrible details of that case. We'll see when the next time I get called to jury duty is.

October Activities

Wesley and I have been able to do a lot of fun activities this October. We started off by going to Cross E Ranch at the beginning of the month. This weekend we went to the BYU homecoming football game. We are going to end the month by going to Bootanical at Red Butte Garden . We are also going to a Halloween party with Wesley's friends this weekend. It has been a fun fall month!

Norregard Grandparents

This week I thought I would write about my Norregard grandparents on my mom's side. It was grandma's birthday on October 4th and I remembered her. She died when I was six years old, but I still have some vivid memories of her. I remember I loved her so much and always wanted to be next to her at all our family events. I remember sitting in her hospice bed with her and playing. I remember going to the mall and that she would come over when we were sick. I know that she and my mom had their differences, but she worked so hard for her family. I would love to read her journals about growing up in the Netherlands and emigrating to the United States when she was 14. She had to quit school after the sixth grade and worked as a nannny to support her family when she was a teenager. I am in awe of her example every day. I have written a lot about my Grandpa Norregard. He died when I was 16, so I got to spend more time with him. He was one of my best friends and I loved spending time with him. He was so supportive of my dreams and everything I wanted to do. I also would love to read more about his career as an FBI agent and all the things he did. I miss them both every day!

Utah State Friends

Today I thought I would write about the lifelong friends I made during my first year at Utah State University. The first friends I made were Jessica and Alex on the first day after moving into our suite in the Living Learning Community. We would hang out in the living room and walk around campus. Kaitlin, Jessica's older sister, came into the friend group later in the semester when she came to spend time with Jessica. Leanna also joined the friend group during the first semester. Eleven years later, we are still friends. We hang out in person a handful of times per year and Kaitlin and Jessica were bridesmaids in my wedding. We lost contact with Alex for several years but she randomly texted us in February and we have been in contact since. Alex is in Arizona and Jessica is in California. Kaitlin is luckily still in Utah. I am so fortunate to have friends like them.

Birthday Las Vegas and Disneyland Vacation

We got back from our birthday trip on Saturday. It was a great but tiring trip! Here is a breakdown of what we did: Tuesday, Sept. 26: We drove to Las Vegas. We stopped at the DMV to get Wesley's license plates on the way out. We took my dad's electric car so we had to make a couple stops to charge along the way. We stayed at the Caesars Palace and had dinner at Hell's Kitchen. We also walked along the Strip and visited the Bellagio. Wednesday, Sept. 27: We stopped at the Flamingo hotel to look at the wildlife habitat in the morning. Then we drove to Anaheim. Along the way, we stopped at the Rainforest Cafe in Ontario for lunch. It has been a lifelong dream of mine to eat there and I loved the animatronic animals. We checked into hour hotel by Disneyland and went to the Anaheim Angels game in the evening. The Angels lost hard but it was so fun to go to an MLB game. Thursday, Sept. 28: This was our Disneyland day. We got to go on most of the rides we wanted to go on and even got to meet Mickey Mouse. We also had dinner ar the Plaza Inn which I have never tried. There was a little trouble at the beginning of the day with Wesley and David getting into a fight. Luckily, it simmered down and we were able to enjoy the rest of the day. They also had the Halloween projection show on the castle. Friday, Sept. 29: This was on our birthday at California Adventure. We got to go on the Guardian Monsters After Dark ride and the Carsland rides. We also had our Halloween birthday brunch at Goofy's Kitchen. It was a super fun but tiring day because we had been at Disneyland from 7:00am-midnight the day before. Saturday, Spet. 30: We drove home. We stopped at the same places to charge my dad's car and made it back to Utah in the evening. It was a great trip and I can't wait for the next one!

30

I turn 30 years old on Friday. Where has the time gone? I certainly do not feel that old. I am excited I'll be at Disneyland with my family on that day. I know a lot of people feel a little sad on their 30th birthday. I feel like I accomplished a lot in my first 30 years and I have a lot to still do for the next 30.

Lead Animal Handler at NHMU

This August marked six years since I started being an animal handler at Natural History Museum of Utah. I have enjoyed being back on my shift after my year off in Boise. When I came back, I was made a lead animal handler so now I get to help train all the new animal handlers. I am also the most senior person on my 3rd/4th Saturday shift. I have enjoyed being back and a few new animal handlers have started. On Saturday, I did the gopher snake for the first time in years for Utah's Animals and it brought me back to my early days. I look forward to next six years.

Boise Labor Day with In-laws

Wesley and I went up to Boise for Labor Day weekend. Wesley's parents, grandparents, and Jason's family were also there for the baby blessing. We spent a lot of time with Wesley's family and Jared. On Sunday we went to Jeremy and Sarah's baby blessing and luncheon. This trip was a milestone for me because it was the first time I felt truly comfortable and integrated with Wesley's family.

BYU Education Week

This entry is a little late but I still wanted to write about it. About two weeks ago, Wesley and I were able to attend one day of BYU Education Week. I had never been and I loved all the classes. Here are the classes we went to: 1. Legal Highlights of the Restoration 2. Class about the Pioneers 3. Emotional Resilience using the Gospel or something to that effect 4. Lunch break at BYU Skyroom! We also did some shopping in the BYU Bookstore 5. Strengthening marriage class 6. Churchy class about Jesus by a member of the Sunday School General Board 7. Green Flake film showing and session with the director 8. We walked around the BYU Art Museum and got dinner at the Wilk 9. Class about the Great Schism with an editor of the Joseph Smith Papers Wesley and I agreed that the Green Flake movie was our favorite. The director was great about answering questions about the history of slaves and blacks and the priesthood in the early church. The Great Schism class was our least favorite. This was mostly because the presenter kept arguing the the class attendees. We had a great time and I hope we make it a yearly tradition.

Institute Council Service Head Coordinator

I was on the institute council when I was still living in Boise, but I didn't do much. When Wesley and I moved to Sandy, I joined the Jordan institute council. Then just two months later I was called to be the service head coordinator. Part of my responsibilites is to plan two service projects per semester. I already introduced myself to everyone at the institute council openining social 3 weeks ago. Then on Sunday there was a meeting with the presidency and other coordinators. I talked with the institute council president and we are aiming to do a cemetery cleanup in October for the first service activity. I am excited to plan that and be in a leadership role. I will update!

First Day of EdD

My first class in my EdD program started today. Luckily I just had to write an introduction post on the class discussion board. We have our first live Zoom class on Sunday. I also my first institute council presidency meeting on Sunday and Wesley and I are speaking in sacrament. I will update on how both go.

Rush Week at SLCC

It is rush week at SLCC. There are tons of students who need help to get ready for the beginning of fall semester. It is crazy at work with fully booked appointment time slots and endless emails. I did the evening walk in advising last night and and there about two dozen people there. We had to stay 30 minutes after closing to see everyone. It will be a busy next couple of weeks but at least I think I will have a pretty good hold on academic advising after rush.

First Wedding Anniversary

Wesley and I celebrated our first wedding anniversary on Saturday. I can't believe time has flown by so quickly. I am more in love with Wesley now than on our wedding day. We have grown and learned so much about each this past year. He has helped me through some difficult times and celebrated with me during some very happy times. We celebrated our anniversary by going to Lagoon. He had never been and we had a lot of fun on the rides and walking through Pioneer Village. He got me a paper panda for my anniversary gift and I got him paper penguins. I am looking forward to our next anniversary!

Anxiety Days

My anxiety has been pretty bad the last couple of weeks. It started with feeling like I wasn't prepared to start my EdD program at UNC and then it shifted over to work. I am still a new academic advisor and I am just having a lot of tech issues and things I still need to set up. I just need to get through it though and recognize that it is just my anxiety that is making problems seem bad instead of the actual problems. I am trying to be more aware of when my anxiety makes me get scared of normal, everyday things.

New Doctorate Plans

So it is Thursday, July 27th, 2023 and I am not in Colorado taking my seminar at University of Northern Colorado. I decided that the the University of Northern Colorado was not the right school for me. The high cost of tuition in addition to having to travel to Denver each year made the total cost just way too much for me. I am looking at other universities to complete my doctorate in education at. Purdue University has a really great online EdD that I can do in 2.5 years. I will update on the school I choose!

Tale of an Older Sister

I thought I would write about my relationship with my older sister, Katie today. There's obviously a very close relationship between me and Leanna, but I haven't written about Katie as much. When I was growing up, I loved Katie and spending time with her. She did the typical older sibling antics of sometimes teasing or taking advantage of us, but it was still very fun. In my young adult single years, Katie and I were extremely close. The summers I spent with her in Boston and Denver were some of the most fun times of my life. Even when we weren't living together, we would talk on the phone for an hour every week just updating each other on our lives. Things changed when Katie and Leanna had their falling out. It was hard for both of them and Katie thought I was taking Leanna's side for a lot of it. Things gradually got more and more strained. The phone calls lessened and I took fewer trips to visit her. It is now in a really weird spot. Katie rarely responds to my texts now and we hardly talk. I know that Katie has cut herself off from most of the family, but it still hurts. I am just trying to be patient and still make an effort even if she doesn't accept it. Our lives are different and we are both married now, but I still sometimes reminisce about our close relationship of the past. That could happen again but Katie would have to let go of some of her anger towards the family. I will be seeing her while I am in Colorado for my doctoral seminar so I will see how that goes.

Pre Grad School Nerves

My first doctoral seminar class starts two weeks from today and the nerves are starting to set in. I am starting get imposter syndrome over whether I am truly prepared or fit for a doctoral program. I have two assignments I have to get done in the next two weeks and I am overthinking them. It is also stressful because I have to travel to Colorado for the seminar and get all those travel preparations ready. I just need to calm down and put my nerves in perspective. I will be able to handle any challenge that may come my way. I got this. I will update.

Stadium of Fire and Fourth of July Memories

I went to my first Stadium of Fire this weekend. Journey was the musical guest and it was a great concert. I was surprised by how many of their songs I recognized. There was also a firework show and a recognition ceremony for the military. Wesley and I went with my mom and the Turleys. I had never been to the BYU stadium so I didn't know we would be sitting in the bleachers and facing the sun. We'll definitley spring for the chairs next time. Yesterday for the actual Fourth, Wesley and I went to the Sandy parade. It was pretty much the same thing from my childhood with the local politicians, beauty queens, and community businesses. It made me remember the Sandy parades I went to as a kid with the Albanos and my grandpa. Fourth of July is not the same since my grandpa, Shauna, and Hannah are no longer with us. Life changes though and these past two holidays have been with Wesley which is an amazing gift.

Utah Activities

Since moving back to Utah, Wesley and I have explored so many places in Utah. We drove up to Logan, went to the zoo, a Bees game, Thanksgiving Point, the Utah Symphony, and this weekend we are going on a hike and to Stadium of Fire. Wesley hadn't been to many of the places so it was fun to explore it with him for the first time. I've never been to Stadium of Fire so I am so excited to go. Journey is the musical guest and there will be an air show and fireworks. Though there are many things I miss about Idaho, I love being back in Utah. I will update about our activities this weekend.

Idaho Weekend with In-Laws

Wesley and I had a long weekend due to our first Juneteenth holiday from work on Monday. Wesley's parents and Rachel were visiting Tyler and Ashley in Boise for Father's Day weekend and we joined them. We drove up on Saturday morning and stayed until Sunday afternoon. We packed a lot into our short trip. On Saturday after we arrived, we went to a cherry festival in Emmett, ID. On Sunday, we went to church at Tyler and Ashley's ward and had lunch. On our drive back to Utah we stopped at Shoshone Falls in Twin Falls. There was actual water this time and the waterfall was beautiful. It was a short trip but we got to spend some great time with our family.

My Dad's Journey

Mhy dad is almost two weeks into his alcohol treatment program. He had been struggling with alcohol use since he lost his former fiance, Cyndi, in 2020. There were times that I felt so much sadness for him and even genuine fear for his safety like when he drank after being under anesthesia for his colonoscopy. He was a lot happier after he got together with his next fiance, Kendyl, in 2022. Unfortunately, his alcohol use continued into their relationship. The straw that broke the camel's back came shortly after Wesley and I moved back to Utah. He went on an alcohol bender and that was the last straw for Kendyl. She broke up with him and moved out of his house. My dad suffered intense grief for a few weeks but that finally motivated him to seek treatment for his alcoholism. He's now in the evening treatment program through Intermountain Healthcare. I am determined to support him in any way that he needs so he does not relapse. It was really hard for me to see him in such a bad state. It was also a little sad that my sisters and I weren't enough motivation for him to change. I understand his desire for a romantic relationship and that Kendyl leaving was his driving force to seek treatment. It also made me realize how prevalent alcoholism is in the general population. I will update at the end of his treatment.

First Week as an Academic Advisor

I have had three days at SLCC so far and I have loved it. The past two days have consisted of shadowing experienced academic advisors and working on college-required online trainings. Today I will be attending a new student orientation at the West Jordan campus and shadowing the academic advising presentation for the social science pathway. It should be a pretty easy day. Tomorrow will consist of more training and then a retirement party for three advisors in the afternoon. I am excited to start meeting with students! This is my dream job and I am so grateful.

First Day at SLCC

Yesterday was my first day at Salt Lake Community College. I am going to be a criminal justice and psychology acadmeic advisor. The first day went pretty well. I spent a lot of time getting to know the assisant director. The first two hours we set up my laptop and I went through the training manual for the last couple hours. There will be a lot to learn but there is a plan in place and I don't need to know eveything during the first week. I will be shadowing some of my coworkers next week and attending a new student orientation on Wednesday. In other news, my dad started his alcohol treatment program last night. I am so happy he is getting the help he needs. I will update!

May 2023 Update

There is not much to update on this week. I'm starting my training to be an academic mentor at the U on June 5th. Wesley and I moved into our new apartment. He started his new job at the Salt Lake County office on Monday. My dad and his fiancee has officially broken up. I am just enjoying this extra time by hanging out with the Turleys and looking forward to summer. I am reminiscing about last summer a little bit. It was just so fun being engaged and planning the wedding with Wesley. I had also just moved to Boise and was enjoying exploring a new state. I am happy where I am though and I am looking forward to this next chapter. I will update.

New Apartment in Sandy

Wesley and I found a new apartment in Sandy yesterday that we love. It's on the west side of I-15 and we get our keys on Friday night. We are so excited to have new place. It will be nice being close to my parents while also being within a good commuting distance to work. I also got the academic mentoring job at the U! I start my training on June 5th. There was some drama this weekend with my dad and his fiance potentially breaking up. Things are looking better though. I will update next week on our move and our trip to Logan planned this weekend.

Back to Utah Move

Last week, Wesley and I packed up up our aparment in Boise and got ready to leave. My dad and his fiance came up to help us move. We spent one night in a hotel after turning in our keys and then we drove down to Utah on Saturday. My dad drove the moving truck so Wesley and I could drive our own cars down. We are staying at his house until we find an apartment. Wesley got a job offer to be an accountant for the Salt Lake County Sherrif's Office and I am so happy for him. As for me, it does not sound like I got the jobs at the U or BYU so I will continue my job search at SLCC and UVU. I will update!

Academic Advisor Job Search

With Wesley and I moving to Utah on Saturday, the job search has been in full force. I am looking for an academic advisor job that I can do while I complete my EdD. I had an interview with the University of Utah on Friday and I have an interview with BYU today. Even though I probably won't get this job at BYU, I am honored to have even gotten an interview. I am also looking at advisor jobs at Salt Lake Community College and UVU. I am hoping to find a job ideally by the summer, but I am also fine with starting in the fall. As for Wesley, he has had many accountant interviews. He has a promising lead with Salt Lake County so I hope there is good news next week. I am so excited to be back in Utah soon!

EdD at University of Northern Colorado

I am happy to report that on Monday I was officially accepted into the Doctorate of Educational Studies at University of Northern Colorado. I had my interview and writing test last Thursday. I was super nervous and didn't know what they were going to ask me. It ended up being a friendly discussion with the admissions committee about my interests and motivations for getting an EdD. Later that day I did the writing test. It ended up being pretty easy and I spent 45 minutes writing about the benefits and drawbacks of school vouchers. I got an email from the program coordinator on Sunday that the program had accepted me and I got the official acceptance letter from the Graduate School on Monday. I am now getting ready to register for classes and apply for financial aid. My first class will be a doctoral seminar in Loveland, CO at the end of July. This has been a huge goal of mine and I am so excited to start this educational journey.

Easter Weekend 2023

It was another weird Easter weekend this year. My mom had her breast cancer lump removed on the Friday I came in from California. Wesley drove down from Boise so we could help her the weekend after the surgery. She ended up being not too happy with us. Wesley also developed cold symptoms on Saturday and we couldn't stay at her house anymore because we didn't want to get her sick. We spent Saturday night at my dad's house and drove back to Boise on Sunday instead of our planned Monday. I was a little upset but it ended up being for the best. We got to have Easter dinner with Tyler and Ashley and have Monday off of work. I was a little disappointed I didn't get to spend a lot of time with the Turleys, but I'll get to see them a lot more when we move to Utah in two weeks.

Disneyland Trip with In-laws

It has been an absolutely crazy week. I went to Disneyland with Wesley's mom and sisters. My mom also had her lumpectomy on Friday and Wesley and I went to Utah to help her afterward. It ended in disaster but I will write about that next week. This week's journal entry will focus on the Disneyland trip. It ended up being a great trip! It was nice to spend some time and get to know Wesley's family on an individual basis. I went with Jamie, Rachel, and Ashley. Ashley and I flew down to Orange County last Wednesday and met up with Jamie and Rachel. On Thursday we spent one day at Disneyland. It was super fun since I hadn't gone since 2010. We went on 5 rides I had never gone on before: Rise of the Resistance, Smuggler's Run, Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway, the Monorail, and Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters. The Star Wars rides were definitely my favorite. We also got to do classic Disneyland activities like meeting Winnie the Pooh, watching the parade, and watching the fireworks. It was a long day though. We were in the park from 7:00am to 12:00am. On Friday we did the 10 hour drive to Utah where the terrible Easter saga began. It was a great trip and it was so fun to spend some time with Wesley's family.

My Mom's Cancer Journey

On Thursday morning, I received the news that my mom's cancer had come back. This is the third time that my mom has battled breast cancer. The first time she just had a lump on one of her breasts. This was when I was around 9 years old. I didn't understand it that much because I was so young. My grandpa did most of the help. She had just the lump removed that time. The cancer came back in 2015 right as I was getting ready for my mission. I was living with Katie in Boston at the time working at the Old State House Museum. I moved back to Utah because I was the only one who could take care of her. My mom had a double mastectomy and did 6 months of chemotherapy. The emotional and physical stress of that time was almost too much to bear. That was definitely the hardest year of my life and the year where I felt like a became a real adult, dealing with real issues. This time around the cancer came back at the only place it can come back after a double mastectomy. She definitely needs to have surgery and radiation. Though I am scared at what's to come, there are tender mercies this time around. This time I have Wesley to help me. We will be moving back to Utah in just a month. We are spending this weekend in Utah to help my mom after the surgery on Friday. We also have Leanna and David to help take of her. At least I have Disneyland on Thursday and Wesley is driving down to Utah on Friday. I will update.

Living Christ Usher

I did my last gig in my efforts to relive my mission last night. Wesley and I volunteered as ushers at the the Living Christ event that our stake puts on around Easter. We went to it last year but just as guests. It is a living painting presentation that depicts moments from Jesus's final week. We were counters. I collected the session cards in the exhibit hall and Wesley helped manage the line. Another woman used the clicker to count the number of guests. It was so nice to work with Wesley, especially during such a spiritual event. We are going again as guests with Wesley's family on Friday. I am going to miss these missionary opportunities when we move to Utah, but I hope opportunities like this will pop up again.

Boise Time Out for Women Usher

I volunteered this past weekend to be a guest service usher at the Boise Time Out for Women. I was assigned to be a check-in usher and I was on the team that worked the early access line. The other ushers would scan the tickets and hand out the wristbands while I handed out the free journals and programs. Another usher handed out the free tote bags. It was a little more tiring because we checked all the women in while they were still standing in line rather than using tables. We then checked wristbands at the door until the even started. We even wore the Deseret Book aprons. It was fun and I worked with some really great women, but it was tiring. It also was not as fun as the Salt Lake event because I wasn't with Leanna. It was a great experience though and I am looking forward to also ushering at the Living Christ event next week.

Harper's Sealing and Blessing

My cute little baby niece had her temple sealing and baby blessing this weekend. This was a long awaited weekend because we were waiting on the adoption to be finalized. A lot of Wesley's family was able to travel to Boise for the events. On Saturday I got to be one of the people to get Harper ready in the youth center at the temple before the sealing. The sealing was amazing and it was so special to see a sealing of a child to her parents. After the temple, Tyler and Ashley hosted a wonderful dinner at the church next door to the temple. Wesley and I got to spend a lot of time talking to his sweet grandma from Spanish Fork. On Sunday we went to their ward for the baby blessing and Wesley got to stand in the circle. After the blessing, we had a luncheon at Tyler and Ashley's house and said goodbye to all the family that came into town. It was an amazing weekend and I got to witness the powerful blessings of eternal family.

Costa Rica Trip

Wesley and I got back from Costa Rica two days ago. It was a great trip! My first international trip outside of Canada in years and it was nice to spend time with my family. This is a breakdown of what we did: Friday, March 3rd: We flew down to the Liberia airport. We met up with my dad and Kendyl and the Turleys in the Denver airport during the layover. We met Kendyl's kids for the first time. We got to the Riu Palace and settled in. Saturday: We went to Diamante Eco-Park. Wesley and I did the ziplining in the morning and saw the animal sanctuary, botanical gardens, and historical house in the afternoon. The ziplining was great and they had so many native animals. We saw jaguars, sloths, and lots of native reptiles. Sunday: We went to the waterpark with the Turleys and spent time on the beach and at the pool. We saw some wild howler monkeys in the morning. Monday: Wesley and I went up to Sensoria at the Rincon de la Vieja volcano. We went on a hike through the rainforest and swam in the volcanic hot springs. We also got a great view of the volcano. It was cold and really rainy but we still had a great time. When we got back to the hotel, we got to see baby sea turtles being released on the beach. That was definitely a once in a lifetime experience. Tuesday: We said goodbye to the Turleys in the morning and spent the morning at the pool. In the afternoon, we went with my dad and Kendyl's family on a catamaran out into the ocean. It was essentially a booze cruise but we saw some rays in the ocean and did some snorkeling. Wednesday: Wesley and I flew back to Boise. There was a mishap in the morning when our airport shuttle never showed up. We ended up barely making it in time for our plane to board. I was so scared we were going to miss our flight. It was overall a fantastic trip!

Twin Falls Anniversary

Wesley and I celebrated our 1 year anniversary of meeting in person this weekend. We went back to Twin Falls and stayed at the same hotel. Only Leanna and David weren't with us this time. We drove down on Saturday and started off by walking around the Twin Falls temple grounds. We went back to Idaho Joe's for lunch and we got a scone and the burger, fry, and pie meal deal. We then went to Deseret Book and bought an authentic replica of the original Book of Mormon. After we checked into our room at the Fairfield Inn, we went back to the Herrett Museum and watched the Orion show in the planetarium. We then walked around the rest of the museum. We kissed at the Native American fishing video again just like last year when we had our first kiss. We finished the evening by doing blacklight mini golf and swimming in the hotel pool. It was a perfect day just like when we had our first date. On Sunday we went to church at a Twin Falls YSA ward and had lunch at Buffalo Cafe. It was just as magical of a weekend as when we first met. I hope this becomes somewhat of a tradition. It's been such a whirlwind of a year.

New Doctorate Plans

I received the crushing but not shocking news that I didn't get into the University of Utah's PhD program on Friday. It took me the full weekend to recover. I had been expecting it, but it was still hard to not feel bad about myself after the rejection. I am still applying to the online EdD through University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and I am also applying to the EdD program at University of Northern Colorado. I have an appointment with an admissions coach this afternoon. Even though it wasn't what I had planned, I am confident that whatever happens is where I am supposed to be. In fun news, Wesley and I are celebrating our 1 year anniversary of meeting in Twin Falls this weekend!

Valentine's Day

It was my first Valentine's Day where I had an actual Valentine this year. Wesley and I were still just talking and getting to know each other last year. Valentine's Day of last year was the turining point though and when he really started to open up to me. We celebrated on Saturday by having dinner at Anthony's, a really nice seafood restaurant in downtown Boise, and seeing A Man Called Otto. On actual Valentine's Day, I got him Five Guys and we relaxed at home. We exchanged cards and he got me the lion WWF build-a-bear and I got him a new pair of Vans. On Monday while I was subbing, I also helped some kids make their Valentine bags, so I got to celebrate in the fun elementary school way too.

OCD Update

I thought it would be a good idea this week to give an update on the status of my OCD. Since around 2016, I have suffered from OCD that has varied in severity over the years. For some periods of time, it was so severe that I could not focus on my job or relax at home without ruminating. My OCD has mostly stemmed from feeling the need to organize my life around wanting to accomplish certain things and excel in every area of life. It has lessened significantly over the past few years, but I still have random times that I ruminate about something. I am very grateful it does not overpower my thoughts like it used to. I am also becoming less of a perfectionist over the years which has been another blessing.

February Update

Not much to report on this week. I am having better experiences substitute teaching. No admission decision from the U yet but I am nervous and excited at the same time. We had a great primary activity with the boys having root beer floats and playing games last week. My dad's wedding has been cancelled but we are still going to Costa Rica next month. I am also trying to become a Time Out for Women ambassador so I can help out at the Boise Time Out for Women next month. Hopefully by next week there will be new updates.

January Trip to Utah

Wesley and I spent this past weekend visiting my family in Utah. It was very much needed since we did not see them for Christmas and David just had heart surgery. We drove down on Friday night and got to Sandy around 11:00 pm. On Saturday we went with Leanna and Davie to the Ice Castles in Midway. It was super fun and we saw the castles. There were also reindeer, an ice slide, and an ice maze. On the way back, we ate lunch at a really good burger place called Dairy Keen in Heber City that I kept confusing as Dairy Queen. Their unique attribute was a train running through the restaurant. Leanna and Davie spent Saturday night at my mom's and it was so nice to get to spend some more time with them like old times. I drove them home on Sunday and I got to see sweet little Henry. Wesley and I had breakfast with my dad on Monday morning and we drove back to Boise after. It was a great trip and I am so glad I got to help Leanna since she has been on her own since David's surgery.

Substitute Teaching Adventures

I started substitute teaching in the West Ada School District last week to make some extra money. I wasn't too nervous after 2 years of substituting in the Canyons School District all those years ago and after teaching my own classes. My first day, however, ended up being a bust. I accepted a job being an extended resource room para at one of the high schools. It turned out the job posting was just a mistake and there was not really any need for me. The special education department head was basically just finding things for me to do. I got to work with some really cute special needs kids, but I really didn't need to be there. I almost wish they would have just been honest with me and sent me home instead of passing me off to various teachers. We'll see how subbing this time around compares to my 2015-2016 subbing though.

Activity Days

Wesley and I held our first primary activity last night. We decorated cookies and played some Getting to Know You games. I was super nervous beforehand and it was giving me a lot of anxiety but the activity ended up being great. All six boys came and they all were chatty and seemed to have a great time. I am looking forward to our next three months in this calling. This is my first time working with the primary as an adult leader and I am excited to serve these boys.

New Year 2023

It is officially 2023 after the whirlwind year that was 2022. I was doing my yearly planning and I realized that 2023 will be a jam-packed year as well. Most of all, I am so excited to start another year with Wesley. I will also (hopefully) be starting my doctorate in education policy. I am also aiming to be more forgiving, less sensitive, and braver this year. We will see how these New Year resolutions go.