Patient/Family Liaison

It's only been a few weeks since I've felt compelled to find volunteer opportunities.  I just happened to stumble upon two things that sounded like a great fit for me, but I didn't know what would come of them, so I didn't want to say anything too soon.

The first opportunity that got the ball rolling was to become a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA).  I just found out more about that today and am excited to get the process started.  It will entail a background check that is expected to take 6-8 weeks as well as a series of training classes that don't start until May.

The other opportunity I wanted to pursue is with Primary Children's Hospital.  The first time I went to their website, the only volunteer openings they had listed were for Hospice.  I thought that was something I could do and considered signing up.  But by the time I went back to their website, many of the other positions had opened up.  I looked through the various descriptions and was really excited about the possibility of becoming a Patient/Family Liaison.

The practical functions of this position is to meet with newly admitted families and let them know about the showers, beds, cafeteria etc to help them know the resources available to them while their child is in the hospital.  The sideline function of this position is to be there to ask how they are doing and lend a listening ear to a family who is probably dealing with some pretty emotional and overwhelming circumstances.  I am really excited about being involved in this way.

I had to submit my resume and it was very nerve wracking.  It's been more than five years since I applied for a job. Fortunately I had to update my resume for a class earlier this semester so with just a few minor tweaks it was ready to go.

I heard back from Primary Children's Hospital immediately (the next day) and was scheduled to go in for an orientation/interview.  It really was much more of an orientation.  The only real question that seemed to potentially disqualify the candidates was if they lost a child in the last 12-18 months.  Obviously that could be really triggering to be at the hospital watching families going through difficult medical issues.  Fortunately, I haven't had to endure that sort of experience, and I was cleared to go forward with the volunteer process.

I need to finish some online training, get a drug test, and show evidence that my immunizations are complete.  I was told to expect the process to be 2-4 weeks.  Once I finish those steps, I'll be working Monday mornings from 9:00 AM until 12:00 noon.  I was kind of nervous about what kind of time commitment to expect and was thinking that I really didn't think I could do much more than one shift a week.  I was excited that the weekly three hour shift was exactly what they schedule.

It is amazing to have these things really happening.  This has been a crazy busy week with the two different meetings for my volunteer opportunities as well as the General Training for Relief Society downtown.  Juggling all this with the regular school responsibilities and my family has been fun.  (My house has been a wreck all week despite being cleaned really well on Monday morning.)  I'm looking forward to the experiences these opportunities will bring into my life!

Cooking Contest Practice

Ammon's scout troop has been working on their cooking badge.

They are just about finished, and to celebrate what they learned they are having a cooking contest.

Ammon is taking this contest seriously.

The rules say that he has to make something completely by himself.

He decided he wanted to practice cooking alone.

He took on the task of making chocolate chip cookies.

I showed him where to find the recipe (on the back of the chocolate chip bag) and got out of the kitchen.

He did everything!

He set up the BOSCH.

He measured out all of his ingredients.

He mixed the dough and put it on the pan.

He preheated the oven.

He timed them and got them in and out of the oven.

Oh, but wait.

I did help.

I helped EAT them.

His cookies came out completely delicious!

I hope he makes more soon.

I was so proud of him for taking on the challenge and doing such a great job!

He is my amazing Ammon.

I so totally adore him!

Hot Dogs and S'Mores

The weather this weekend was absolutely beautiful.

We decided to take full advantage of it.

We borrowed my parents fire pit to roast hot dogs.

My brother and his family were there as well.

My grill-master husband also cooked up hamburgers for the adults.

After dinner, Andy helped the kids roast marshmallows to make s'mores.

We had great weather, wonderful family memories and good food. 

Life doesn't get  much better than this!

New Car

In a decade of being married, Andy and I have only ever had one car that we didn't own outright.

We made extra payments on that car and owned it before the five year loan was up.

Unfortunately, Andy was in a car accident with that car.

It was totaled.

As we tried to figure out what to do,

recognizing that we value not having a car on debt,

we started to see things a little bit differently.

We noted that the interest on car loans were cheaper than the student loan debt we had recently accumulated.

And that the interest on a car loan is simple vs the student loan complex interest.

Although it took a minute for us to wrap our heads around it, it actually seemed to be more financially savvy to put our insurance payout into our student loans rather than towards a new car.

We decided to go for a while without a second vehicle.

But the time has come when a second car seems like the best situation for us.

We began to ponder how to make this happen, and the solutions came.

We were so happy with our last car purchase, that we mimicked it.

Andy did a great job finding a wonderful deal on a 2010 Hyundai Elantra.

We are excited that it also happens to have some great perks - especially the sun roof.

After spending all day at the dealership, the first order of business was a family drive to Park City.

We stopped at Taco Bell for dinner after securing what we came for - 

Oakley stickers for Andy to put on his car.

(Yes, he is THAT crazy about Oakley!)

It's only been a few days, but we are already so happy with the flexibility of a second car.

And we are loving that Andy is back in a "commuter" vehicle for going to work

rather than guzzling through insane amounts of gas in the Explorer.

It's been fun!

Spring

 

Well, I've been waiting and waiting for Winter to hit.

I finally realized it's not just late like last year.

It just really isn't coming.

And suddenly it's Spring.

Bring on the neighborhood BBQ's!

 

Peter loves to be outside.

He has a lot of energy and likes to have room to run and play.

 

Ammon decided he was hungry while we were all out playing.

So he went inside to make himself a snack.

He returned, quite pleased with is new invention:

Peanut Butter and Ritz sandwich.

He loved it!

Both boys have had several PB&R sandwiches since then!

 

And we've continued to enjoy our time outside.

Stretching Our Taste Buds

It seems like I've been hearing about Bountiful Baskets for years.

I've had friends, neighbors and even family members tell me about it.

And everyone thought it was great.

I was hesitant to give it a try.

My family is very picky about our produce - we don't branch out much.

And bountiful baskets exposes you to all sorts of fruits and vegetables.

But I reached a point where that risky exposure became a benefit.

I am a picky eater,

my husband is even more of a picky eater,

and my children are turning into picky eaters.

I decided it was time to stop the trend.

I tried introducing some basics into our home.

Crazy, exotic thing - like broccoli.  (haha)

I was met with some serious moans and groans.

Then I had yet another friend mention her love of Bountiful Baskets.

And the solution hit me.

Let "the basket" decide what new foods we would try.

That way it wouldn't be "my fault".

It was brilliant!

And it's gone really well.

Andrew has been incredibly supportive.

He picked up that first basket and told me of his relief when he saw the broccoli.

What a complete paradigm shift that was for him!

But he recognized it, unlike some of the other items in the basket.

He has been willing to try everything.

Years ago we used to enjoy watching Fear Factor together.

It was hilarious watching Andy pump himself up to eat brussel sprouts.

He told me he felt like a contestant on that show.

(And he acted like one too.)

But he overcame his "fear" of the scary vegetable and he ate it.

We tried three different recipes for our kale.

This smoothie was one of our experiments.

An orange, two bananas and one little leaf of kale.

Andy decided it would taste better if he created a good presentation.

And so he got out these glasses, sliced the oranges and made it just so.

We are going on our 4th week of getting a basket and it's continuing to be great for us.

Relief Society Outing

My Enrichment Counselor planned a Relief Society tour to

The Church History Museum.

She scheduled us to go on a Saturday morning.

My parents are docents in that museum every other Saturday.

I called my mom to see if she would be there.

Not only was she going to be there that day, she was the person in charge of planning tours.

So she planned to be our tour guide.

It is a great museum.

I remember taking it for granted as a kid.

When I was in Texas, I REALLY wanted to go there again.

When I moved back to Utah, I started taking it for granted again.

(Isn't that how it goes, sometimes!)

A lot of the ladies in our group had never been there before.

It was great for them to see what this building was all about.

My mom shared some neat stories about the women in our LDS history.

It was a great outing!

Thanks, Shae, for planning it.

And thanks to you, Mom, for being our tour guide!

Natural History Museum

My mother-in-law decided to sponsor a trip to the Natural History Museum.

(She, Andrew and I were all free so it just meant paying for the boys.)

It was a fun activity.

It's a new building and even though it is so close to us, we'd never been.

The boys LOVED it.

There were so many things to see and explore.

Despite spending a few hours there, I feel like we barely scratched the surface of the museum.

It was a great way to spend the afternoon.

Thanks Peggy!

One Step

"Strengthen home and family."

These are the words that have been beating in my mind like a drum as of late.  Every breathe, every heartbeat, every moment I am consumed with the thoughts, "strengthen home and family."

The words are familiar to me.  They are the purpose of Relief Society (the women's organization in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints).  But now they are becoming personal.  These words aren't just generic ideals, but a specific directive to me, with individual meaning.

Three years ago I began my journey seeking a college degree.  I started back to college pursuing the degree that was my obvious choice: Psychology.  But once back, I felt driven to pursue another personal goal of mine - a Computer Science degree.  Either way, my plan was to spend three more years finishing my goal.  If I went the route of Psychology it would be one year to finish my BS degree and two years of grad school.  If it was my Computer Science degree, it would be three years to finish the undergrad.  Or, as it turns out, I could spend three years towing the line of both and feeling that little progress is being made with either.

Still, I tried to follow the promptings I received as I selected my path each semester.  And although the progress in school has felt minimal at best, I have felt myself being a student of the Lord through the experiences and opportunities He has granted me during these times.

Shortly after I became the Relief Society President in my ward, my path seemed more clear.  I came to realize that my involvement in a women's organization where my opportunity was to help, serve, and teach was what I was passionate about.  My calling as president is expected to be about one year.  I realized that when a year was up, I wouldn't be done.  I came to understand that I want my life work to be about helping women.  That by helping women, I would be strengthening homes and families.

But as time went on, I continued to struggle with the idea of "giving up" in my pursuit of a computer degree.  The next semester I signed up for two classes that would benefit both degrees, and Calculus that does nothing for Psychology, but is a personal goal.  Ever since I was a little girl watching a high school aged neighbor come get tutoring from my dad for her calculus class, I wanted to finish calculus myself.  Sitting at the table, watching him help her with her math problems, I decided I wanted to be the parent who could tutor my own children and wouldn't need to send them to the neighbor.

I kept thinking that as long as I finish this calculus class, I might as well take the next one.  And if I take the next one, I might as well take the science requirements.  And if I take those requirements, I might as well finish the computer science degree.  I just couldn't let it go.

Then my grandparents needed some help and I was fortunate to be in a situation where I could be there to offer some of that assistance.  I was reminded how much I want to work with people - to help and to serve. I have continuously debated because people with computer science degrees can fulfill these goals.  They can help and serve and bless the lives of others.

But finally - FINALLY - after three years of struggle, I feel confident in a direction.  Personal revelation has given me an understanding of what Heavenly Father wants me to do.  I have taken school slowly because of Peter's young age.  Next year I will continue to go slow and finish off my Psychology degree over the two semesters.  This will be his last year before attending school ALL day.  I hope to enjoy this time with him even as I finish my own goal.

It is time for me to start preparing for graduate school.  This means volunteer work and service opportunities.  I am so excited.  I have been hesitant to get involved in anything "extra".  I have already felt pulled too many directions and unable to be as present in the home as a wife and mother as I wish I could be.  And now, I am finding a peace that is telling me that the time is here.  

A month ago I didn't have room for these things in my life, but suddenly Heavenly Father is telling me it's time.  I am grateful to know that Heavenly Father knows my name and is willing to guide me.  For years I have struggled to decide between two degrees, and I just haven't known where to go.  For years the answers I had kept me connected to both degrees.  They kept my progress minimal in a way that allowed us to live where we live (which requires student status at a certain number of credit hours each semester).  Had I selected one or the other degree, we would be done by now.  But Heavenly Father sent us here, to our friends and neighbors because he knew this was where we could grow and learn in the ways HE wanted us to.  And now, after the trial of our faith, He is giving me the next step, which is to finish my BS in Psychology next year.  And while doing that, I will be working to strengthen my own home and family as best as I can and also hope to serve others through volunteer opportunities.  (I have two or three options in mind already and I'm excited to see which ones come to fruition.)

It is a neat thing to feel the Spirit of the Lord directing you day by day.  It is amazing in a different way, to feel the answers coming to the questions that linger for years.  I have been blessed by both and feel awed and grateful to a loving Heavenly Father.

I still have questions.  My path is not completely clear.  But I know that I am one step closer to becoming the person Heavenly Father wants me to be.  And that just feels good.

Hollywood Connection

After our fun day last September at Hollywood Connection, I faithfully watched for another deal to come along.  My intention was to take a group of boys for Ammon's birthday party.  In the end, he wanted a more traditional party, and so we went, once again, as a family.  It was a blast!  My boys love miniature golfing so that was the first order of business.

Last time we went to Hollywood, we didn't even think to go skating.  This time we were there longer and enjoyed getting the skates on.  I was an avid skater in my childhood, so I still marvel that I have two boys who are so completely unstable on skates.  It's my fault, though.  They just don't get the exposure to it that I did.  I am always thrilled to see them on skates.  We've always done ice-skates in the past - I really think this may have been the first roller skating experience for them both!)

Of course we spent hours on the rides.  The bumper cars was still a favorite.  The boys loved the roller coaster too.  When we went in September, I was healing from my back problems and was overly optimistic about things.  For the most part it was OK, but I did hurt it on the roller coaster.  Six months later I still struggle a lot with my back so I was a lot more conservative with what I did.  Mostly I watched.  This meant that the boys ended up going on things alone sometimes if Andy was on a different ride with the other child.  I'm sad I couldn't sit next to him, but it was fun to watch Ammon ride the roller coaster all by himself.  He is growing up so much!  Later, Ammon and Peter rode together without either of us.  I love what great friends they are.  It was a really fun day!

Biking, Scouts and Silly Putty

Pictures taken February 21, 2012

Towards the end of last fall, Peter's bike went missing.

This was a major problem because he LOVES bike riding.

Still, winter was coming and we hoped it would show back up.

It never did, and with the mild winter, we finally broke down and got him a new one.

He was THRILLED beyond belief.

He is big enough to get the bike in and out of our home on his own.

He is very careful to keep his bike in his bedroom whenever he isn't riding it.

He is a cute, responsible little guy.
(Who, like his brother,  is growing up WAY too fast!)

Pictures taken February 22, 2012

One of the older guys in Ammon's scout group earned his Arrow of Light.

The set up an award ceremony and all the boys received the belt loops and pins they had earned.

Ammon was advanced to a Bobcat.
For his first ceremony, he got to participate in the color guard by carrying a flag down the isle.
Peter and I almost missed the ceremony because Peter uncharacteristically fell asleep.
We finally decided to take him but he really didn't wake up.
(Until the end when they served cookies.)

Ammon LOVES scouts and Andrew has worked hard with him to do all sorts of extra things.

I know nothing about scouts and so was surprised when I got an award.

I was called up to the front with Ammon and he pinned ME with the "mother's pin".

Andrew was slightly bitter since he is the one who really earned it.

But considering the name, he decided he didn't want the pin anyway...

Pictures taken March 1, 2012

The other day Ammon was playing with some silly putty he got at his birthday.
Peter was feeling left out.

We could have gone to the store to buy him some.

We could have told him to tough it out.

Instead, we went to the store and bought the stuff to MAKE some.

It didn't turn out quite the same.

And it dried out the next day.

But it was fun and made him happy.

He is lucky to have a dad who does such fun things with him.