{Quarterly}

At my work, we have little care plan meetings for each of the residents every three months. In other words, it is a quarterly meeting. We talk about how the resident is doing and if there are any things that we can do to help improve their stay at the facility. In some ways, they help look forward to the annual review, where we hope there is some form of improvement.

Today I experienced an amazing quarterly. But this one was for myself. I have reached the point in my schooling where I have completed a quarter towards graduation. I have 300 practicum hours until I can say that I have a Bachelor's degree from Weber State University.

This is an accomplishment that I will be so relieved to have and so proud to have fulfilled.

I look forward to the 2 other quarterlys before I finally reach my annual. The big thing that I have worked so hard to receive!

Until Next Time
Peace & Blessings!

{YOU'VE GOT A FRIEND IN ME}

I HAVE ME AN AMAZING BEST FRIEND. SERIOUSLY. I DON'T KNOW THAT I COULD FIND A BETTER ONE. HER NAME IS SAM. 

SAM IS A ROCK DURING THE WINDSTORM.

SAM IS THE CALM BEFORE AND AFTER THE STORM.

SAM IS THE WIND BENEATH MY WINGS.

SAM IS MY SOUL SISTER.

SAM IS MY KINDRED SPIRIT.

SAM IS AN ANSWER TO MY PRAYERS.

SAM IS AMAZINGLY HILARIOUS.

SAM IS GENUINE.

SAM IS EMPATHETIC.

SAM IS THE BEST DISNEY PARTNER.

SAM IS EVERYTHING THAT I NEEDED. AND I AM GRATEFUL FOR HER EVERY DAY!

I LOVE YOU SAM!

{Mentor}

As many of you know. I have a love for the piano...

Especially this piano..

That's right. A Steinway. I can only dream of owning one. But man do they have a gorgeous sound.

Anyway. Believe it or not, this post is not all about Steinway pianos. 

I am going to tell you a wonderful story, however.

I have been taking piano lessons for 12 years, give or take a year. Throughout these years I have had two teachers. Both of which I adored through the years.

As I have grown and become more advanced in the piano and even began teaching piano lessons, I have found something wonderful.

Let me tell you about my piano teacher, Malinda. She has helped me learn that I can actually play the piano if I set my mind to it and even convinced me to practice more than I usually would have.

This is the amazing thing. I no longer see Malinda as a teacher, but as a mentor. If you look at the facts, piano is partially self-taught. Sure I can be instructed of which key is which not, and what the difference between a p and an f is. But, at the end of the day, I need to teach myself how my muscles will create each sound.

So, if that is the case, then what is the point of a teacher? A teacher is a mentor. She convinces me to play the piano because she can see the sound that I truly can make. She can see the potential and the drive and will force it out of me when I tell myself I can't do it. She will challenge me in all aspects so that I can truly love the piano.

For that, I am forever grateful.

Thanks for being a Mentor, Malinda.

Until Next Time...

Peace & Blessings. 

Christmas from you Heart to your finger {nails}

As you all know. I have a serious nail polish problem! With Christmas right around the corner I thought that it might be fun to do a blog post about the Christmas nail polish that I have.
Me and my sister are going to start a strictly nail polish blog. Hopefully some of you will like it. :) But it hasn't started yet so I thought I would get a jump start! :)

Enjoy!

This is my nail polish collection that have Christmas inspired names....

I know. It makes me a little sick myself. But they are quite adorable. :)

This is Sephora by O.P.I.s "Are you Glistenin'"

This is a Gorgeous silver top coat. It has a sparkly base. Works well as both a top coat, and with a few extra coats, a full nail polish.

This is Sephora by O.P.I.s "It looks like Rain, Dear."

This beauty is a gold sparkle that only takes two coats to be opaque!  

This is Sephora by O.P.I.s "Stop Stocking Me!"

This is a lovely metalicy like nail polish that has just too awesome of a name! 

This is China Glazes "This is Tree-Mendous"

This is a new collection that I haven't tried yet. But come on, look at how gorgeous that glitter is! 

This is Nicole by O.P.I.s "Keeping Up with Santa."

This is from the Kardashian collection. It is pretty much the perfect Christmas red!

This is O.P.I.s "Underneath the Mistletoe"\

I have not yet tried this one. But it is the perfect redish pinkish goldish glitter out there! 

This is O.P.I.s "Cute Little Vixen"

How adorable is that name? 

This is Nicole by O.P.I.s "Kardashing Through the Snow"

Again from the Kardashian line. But it is a beautiful glitter. (Can you tell that apparently Christmas means glitter?) 

This is Sephora by O.P.I.s "Be-Claus I said So"

I really liked this brand and sadly it is no more. But this red top coat is similar to Are you Glistenin' in a way that you can use it as both a top coat and a full nail polish color. 

This is O.P.I.s  "My Favorite Ornament"

This gold sparkle is absolutely stunning! Would go great with red or green! :) OR on its own. 

This is Piggy Polish "It's because I'm GREEN isn't it?"

This is the brightest, prettiest green ever! And plus, it is quoting the movie The Grinch!!! 

This is Piggy Polish "Blame it on the Mistle TOE"

This red has an excellent combination of gold to make it stunning! :) 

This is O.P.I.s "All I want for Christmas (is OPI)"

Lets face it. That is all that I really want! :) 

This is Sephora by O.P.I.s "Good Tidings We Bling"

The perfect top coat! I love it on top of white!  

This is China Glazes "There's Snow one Like You"

This is a texture polish that literally looks like snow. I am torn at how I like it though! 

This is China Glazes "All wrapped Up"

There is only one thing better than purple. And that is a glittery purple! 

This is Rainbow Honey's "Candy Cane Gram"

This is a glitter that has at least four different shapes of glitter! I love this as a full polish color. It takes a few coats, but with its micro-glittery base, it is perfect! :)

Let me know how you liked this post!

Until Next Time...

Peace & Blessings!!!

{Out with the old... In with the new...}

"My world is changing. I'm rearranging..." 

-Where are you Christmas? [The grinch]

Well hello there. It has been a while since I have posted! Shocker... I know. actually. It has been almost exactly 2 months. I was looking at my blog and realized that the two things I have blogged about since the summer were excellent things. However. My life has taken a flip flop and I have not even mentioned it! How dare I?? ;) 

So I guess I will begin to tell you about my adventures these past few months. :)

As most of you know. I worked at Moore's Family Restaurant. it is a cute little diner in Ogden that has a plethora of customer, most of which were regulars. It was an excellent job in a sense that the customers were nice and it had its moments where it paid very well. There, of course, were things that had happened over the two years that I worked there that made me dislike the job and wish that I had a better one. I am not going to lie, I was like The Parable of the Importune Friend. I felt that I was almost complaining and murmuring to God when I prayed about it. I was constantly saying things like "I know that this job was something that you sent me to do, but if there is something better please help me find it." or "help me know what to do because I don't think that I should be a waitress forever." Sometimes the prayers almost felt like they weren't heard. There were so many times that I grew more and more frustrated, but it didn't matter how many jobs I applied to, I was never called for an interview. The oddest part about the situation is that there were times when I found a job to apply for, but things would be good at work at the time, so I would feel that I shouldn't apply to it. 

Then. One day. I [honestly] was driving to work. I noticed that I had got an email. I glanced at it and saw that it was one of the professors from WSU posting on the Social Work page about a job opportunity. He had posted these many times before and I didn't seem interested at all in the past. This time, I was intrigued. It was a position for social work at a skilled nursing facility. They were offering flexible schedules with school and stating that if you were interested in Social Work that this was the job for you. I'm not gonna lie. I felt that I should do it. I knew that I wasn't the most qualified person in the world, but I felt that I could do this. So. I arranged to have my resume faxed over. If I was applying to a job before this, I would tell a couple of my coworkers about it. But for some reason, I didn't this time. I kept this one entirely to myself. A couple days after my resume was faxed over I got a call asking to come in for an interview. I was elated! I can not even describe how happy I was. Luckily it was on a day that I always requested off. So I didn't have to worry about asking time off for it. 

Then the day came. I hadn't had a real interview, quite possible ever. So I was pretty nervous. But I figured that the worst thing that would happen is that I would still be at Moore's. I had gone to institute that morning. Michaela was waiting at my house to go shopping for mission clothes. It was  a good day... all aside from this interview. I got there about 15 minutes early. So I got to sit on a leather couch mulling over the fact that I was having what I would consider my first interview either. I knew that you were supposed to have questions to ask about the facility and I honestly had none. I had talked to Sandee about what she thought the job would entail. I was golden. And of course. My interview started late. [It is hard for me to remember how late. But I bet it was 10 or 15 minutes]. Then a lady came out and invited me into her office. Her name was Vange. She was super happy and seemed like she loved to have me there. Honesty I felt like I had this interview in the bag. Then I realized that I was not with the administrator. I still had one interview to go. Then came the interview with Reece... {dun dun dun!} I can't remember the details on both of the interviews. I just felt great about the whole interview. I was taken on a tour of the facility and then Reece told me that "i would know by Friday and if they hadn't called me, then to hunt me down" I figured that I could do that. Then of course, I go out and they say that I have to fill out the application. So I am sitting next to the person who is applying for the same job as me. She had all of this experience and guess what. She was LATE to her interview. Of course, because mine didn't start on time, they didn't even notice that she wasn't there on time. She used the excuse of "I got lost". [Apparently everyone is stupid when it comes to that excuse. I drove past the building at like 7 that morning to make sure that I knew where it was. It's really complicated, I know.]
I did my fair share of bugging the facility because I had not heard if I got the job by the day that I had said. My dad has always told me that it's the people that show their interest in the job that get it. It was about a Tuesday when I finally got a hold of someone. Vange picked up the phone and told me that I had got the job! :) YAHOO!

So. I worked like twice during my two weeks notice at Moore's. My first official day was July 8, 2013.
I have now worked at Mountain View Health Services for almost 4 months! I love it! Of course there are moments when I get in trouble. And I am far from the perfect social worker in training! But I am more than blessed at the fact that I have the job. I am so grateful that I was given the opportunity. My bosses are so caring and they see my true potential. They listen and give advise when it is needed. It has both days that are fast paced and slow paced. But I love the elderly people there. I love the people that I work with. And I love that God has given me the opportunity to work there!

At the same time that I got this new job, my best friend Michaela left on her mission. Not even that. My favorite Institute teacher was relocated to a seminary way down in Lehi.

It has been hard. There are days when I completely hate the fact that I am in a completely new part of my life. But I know that this is where God wants me to be. I am able to do my field placement at work! Even through the hard times emotionally, I have seen the ever increasing blessings that have come based on these changes of life. That doesn't mean that I don't miss Michaela or Sister Seamons. I actually think about them almost every day. But the knowledge that God is on my side helps me. He is my father and He is teaching me to become a better person.
I guess that means that "Christmas changes too." ;) 

{I'm Going There Someday...}

"I urge all who have not yet received these greatest of all blessings within the walls of the temple to do whatever may be necessary to qualify to receive them."

-James E. Faust

The temple is such an amazing place! I have loved it for so many years! :) It has such a wonderful peace that can't be described, and yet.. I still haven't received the complete grace of it. I cannot wait for the day when I enter those temple doors to covenant with my Heavenly Father. To learn what He has to teach me, and to love what He has provided for me.

But... Until then... I have a shout out to do! :)

As I stated in a previous post, a lot of my friends have changed since High School. There are many reasons behind this. But. Some of the friends that I have made in college have truly changed me for the better. :) This post is about two of them. :)

My friend Sam, went through the temple today. I could not be more excited for her. I think it is a great step for her and it is such an example to me. She has such a personality that makes her a rock in this religion. Even with her ups and downs she is still far ahead of me when it comes to the gospel. If I could have half of her testimony, I would be a much better example to those around me. Sam, I am so proud of you and what you do to be such a great example and friend. I am so glad to have known you, and I can't wait for the many more days that we can have deep conversations and just be there for each other. Good friends are hard to come by, and you definitely are one. :)

Sam had the opportunity to have our institute teacher go through the temple with her, my second shout out is to her. :)

I can't even describe how amazing you are, and the fact that you went with Sam today shows how amazing you are. You aren't just a teacher. You are a friend, a mentor, and even a mother in a way. You are always there when others aren't. It is nice to see that you can be there for others, that there are people out there that sincerely care for those around them. You ask people how they are doing and actually listen for an answer. Your dating advice is fantastic, you are a friend that catches when we fall. And you are someone that I aspire to be like one day. :) 

I truly have been blessed with great friends. And I know that Heavenly Father has placed these friends in my life so that I can grow closer to Him. They have a light that shines differently than mine, and because of that I have grown. 

The Church is True. :)

Until Next Time...

Peace & Blessings.

{Three Years Later}

"The More I grow up, the more I realize how much more growing up I have to do."

-Unknown

I realized today that I have been out of High School for 3 years. THREE!!!! It is just me, or is that totally bizarre? But I think that it is incredible at how fast your life can change.  One day you have 300 best friends in high school, and the next, you have the few that you have decided to keep close to you. Your attitude, your goals, your ambitions, all change. And yet, you still feel like the same person. It makes no sense, right?

I have quit making friends that don't feel that a mutual friendship in necessary. All of those people in high school that only wanted to be my friend when they needed something are gone. And I don't make friends like that anymore. I can honestly say that there are about 5 friends from high school that I even talk to anymore. One of my best friends from high school and I are still close, and we haven't seen each other longer than 30 seconds in over 2 years. Those are the kind of friends that I seek! :) The quality of things that I seek have changed. I don't want mediocre anymore, I want great. Something that can benefit me in multiple ways. That is one of the reasons that I chose to go to school for a Social Work Degree.

Social Work is a profession that helps people. It is a profession that gives people something. They gain something from having help from a social work professional. But, the thing is, that action is reciprocated as well. The social worker gains something by helping the other. It is service to the t. As I have gone through school, I have realized this more and more. It has changed me. For the better. 

I spend a lot less time wishing that I was with friends. I spend a lot of time with family and I value it more. I love to have a night out with friends, but something about family just brings happiness and a sense of peace. Family will be there for you when no one else will. They will always so those things that no one else does. And they will laugh when a laugh is needed. 

It is funny how the core of a person can change just by growing up a little. But they always will. The change is what Heavenly Father helps us have. It is a change for the better. :) A Change towards him

Until Next Time...

Peace & Blessings.