Graduation Pics

HAPPY GRADUATION DAY TO ME!

This is one of my bestest friends, Kelly, who helped me every step of the way. Without her, this day probably wouldn't have come at all. She helped me get out of bed in the morning, kept me company at lunch, brought me coffee, and made me laugh. She helped me with homework and studying for tests. She was there for me when I was down and about to give up, celebrated completed tests and the last day of each semester, and understood exactly what I was feeling each step of the way. I am so thankful for Kelly. I love this woman!

Here is my Mom and my Grandma. They have been so encouraging and have never given up on me. My mom is my hero and without her example I would be totally lost in this world.



GO SUN DEVILS!

The Holidays

When I figure out how to actually post pictures on here I will put some up from Graduation...if anyone (as most of you do) knows how to post pics on here if you could kindly help out the loser who has no idea it would be greatly appreciated :-)
After graduation I went to Texas for Christmas. I drove to Midland with my mom and celebrated with my Uncles, Aunts, my sister, my mom and my Grandma. I slept for more hours in my 4 days there than I think I did all year and loved every minute of it. There is something about G'ma's house that makes sleeping so easy. I don't know if it's the bed, the dark room, the smell, the safety, the fact that it's my Grandma's, but I slept soundly. We relaxed at home on Christmas day, completed a puzzle, watched TV, and had our Christmas dinner. We weren't actually celebrating our Christmas until the next day when my other Uncle and his family could join us. The next day we got up and began with a tribute to my Grandpa who had passed away earlier this year. He LOVED See's Candy and every year he was given a pound of See's Candy if not more than that. We did our tribute and opened a box of candy in honor and remembrance of my Grandpa. It definitely started out the day just right. We then had our Christmas lunch and then opened presents. It was fun to watch my cousins get excited about their gifts and get to know my Aunt Elaine who I haven't been able to spend any time with since she and my uncle got married. Afterwards, the girls went shopping and then came back home to work on a new puzzle (it's a family thing that we do at my Grandparents). When we got tired we went to bed and got up the next morning to start on the puzzle all over again. My uncle's went out to Chuck E Cheese with my cousins (who are 4 and 6) and the girls went out shopping to the mall. We came home and worked on the puzzle until it was time for dinner. We went down to the Country Club for dinner and it was just wonderful! I love the club and it has very special memories. Everything from the years at the pool and tennis lessons, golf cart rides through the course, or my uncle's wedding where I had wear the most annoying dress ever because it itched so bad, the memories are there. I remember breakfast buffet's on Sunday and practicing my proper etiquette when we would go there for brunch. It was just a perfect way to end the weekend. We had a delicious meal with delicious wine and we dined. My Grandma always tells us if we are just eating or if we are dining. Dining would imply taking our time and enjoying the company we were in. We only "ate" when we had somewhere to go afterwards. We returned home and tried to finish the puzzle but were not able to before I just had to go to bed. Mom and I were leaving the next morning and I had work that night we returned so I needed all the sleep I could get. I wish we could have finished it but there will be another year and another puzzle I am sure.
I spent New Year's eve with David and his family and went to bed early cause I'm a total loser who was working promptly at 6:30AM on New Year's Day. I made my New Year's resolutions and am prepared for the New Year. I think that it's my favorite holiday. Something about the new start makes it wonderful.
I hope that this year brings everyone the greatest of joys and accomplishments. I'm excited to see where this year takes me! HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

A SURVEY FOR 2008

Stole this from another blog... looked like a good thing to do! I copied Kathy :-)

1. What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before? GRADUATE COLLEGE

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I DON'T REMEMBER THEM SO CLEARLY I DIDN'T I KEEP THEM. I'LL TRY BETTER THIS YEAR.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? MANY OF MY FRIENDS DID AND THE GIRLS THAT I HAVE WORKED WITH AT THE GROUP HOME.
4. Did anyone close to you die? YES
5. What countries did you visit? STAYED IN THE USA
6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008? TIME FOR MYSELF
7. What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? DECEMBER 19TH. I GRADUATED AND IT WAS THE MOST INCREDIBLE DAY I HAVE EVER EARNED!
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? HAVE I MENTIONED GRADUATION?
9. What was your biggest failure? I DON'T THINK I HAVE ANY ALTHOUGH I SURE CAME CLOSE MULITPLE TIMES. IT WAS A ROUGH ROUGH ROUGH YEAR.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? NOTHING SERIOUS.
11. What was the best thing you bought? I DON'T EVEN KNOW. I WAS TOO POOR TO PURCHASE MUCH SO THE FACT THAT THE BILLS GOT PAID WAS PRETTY DAMN IMPRESSIVE!
12. Whose behavior merited celebration? MY MOM FOR ONE. SHE IS THE MOST INCREDIBLE WOMAN AND WITHOUT HER I WOULD BE A LOST SOUL. AND MY FRIEND KELLY WHO WITHOUT HER I WOULD NEVER HAVE MADE IT THROUGH SCHOOL. SHE KEPT ME GOING WHEN I WANTED TO SLEEP, QUIT, OR DRINK :)
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and/or depressed? I WORKED IN CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR AND SAW VERY VERY SAD THINGS. I WISH I COULD HAVE DONE MORE.
14. Where did most of your money go? BILLS
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? GRADUATION
16. What song will always remind you of 2008? THERE ARE SEVERAL: TIED TOGETHER WITH A SMILE: TAYLOR SWIFT, ONE STEP AT A TIME: JORDIN SPARKS, THE SONG REMEMBERS WHEN: TRISHA YEARWOOD...THERE ARE OTHERS THAT SIGNIFY IMPORTANCE AT SPECIFIC MOMENTS BUT THESE SEEMED TO BE ONES THAT CARRIED THROUGH THE YEAR
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:i. happier or sadder? thinner or fatter? HAPPIER AND THE SAME
18. What do you wish you'd done more of? TALK TO MY LONG DISTANCE FRIENDS.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of? WORKING. ALTHOUGH THAT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO DO, I STILL WISH THAT THERE WAS A WAY TO HAVE WORKED LESS.
20. How will you be spending New Years? I SPENT IT WITH DAVID, WORKING, AND SLEEPING.
22. Did you fall in love in 2008? I SAY YES.
23. How many one-night stands? NONE TO SPEAK OF
24.What was your favorite TV program? DAYS OF OUR LIVES. IT IS MY TRUE GUILTY PLEASURE.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? NOT HATE.
26. What was the best book you read? THE ONLY NON SCHOOL BOOK I RECALL READING IS "CHANGE OF HEART" BY JODI PICOULT. I LOVE ALL HER BOOKS AND WAS SOOOO HAPPY THAT SHE CAME OUT WITH A BOOK THIS YEAR. I WOULDN'T HAVE READ ANYTHING ELSE FOR PLEASURE OTHERWISE.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery? KATE VOEGELE AND NATASHA BEDDINGFIELD...IS THAT CONSIDERED A MUSICAL DISCOVERY?
28. What did you want and get? A COLLEGE DEGREE
29. What did you want and not get? TIME
30. What was your favourite film of this year? JUNO
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I TURNED 27 AND I WENT TO DINNER TO MY FAVORITE PLACE
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying. LANDING MY DREAM JOB
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008? COMFORTABLE
34. What kept you sane? KELLY AND THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? UH...NONE??
36. What political issue stirred you the most? HEALTH CARE AND THE MARRIAGE PROP
37. Who did you miss? MY LONG DISTANCE FRIENDS MORE THAN EVER
38. Who was the best new person you met? THERE ISN'T ANYONE THAT COMES TO MIND THAT MAKES IT ON THAT LIST. I WAS TOO BUSY TO MAKE NEW FRIENDS THAT WOULD ACTUALLY HIT THE TOP OF THAT LIST. I MET NEW PEOPLE, I HAVE HAD FUN WITH DIFFERENT PEOPLE, BUT THE PEOPLE I ALREADY HAD IN MY LIFE ARE THE ONES THAT HAVE REALLY MADE THIS YEAR GREAT.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008. LOVE YOURSELF LIKE YOU LOVE YOUR FRIENDS, NEVER GIVE UP, CRYING IS OK.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year. WELL THE LYRIC THAT PROBABLY SUMS IT UP IS FROM "TIED TOGETHER WITH A SMILE"
hold on, baby you're losing it
the waters high, your jumping into it
and letting go and no one knows
that you cry, but you don't tell anyone
that you might not be the golden one
and your tied together with a smile
but your coming undone
I SPENT THE ENTIRE YEAR SMILING AND LAUGHING WITH OTHERS BUT I CRIED ALL THE TIME WHEN I WAS ALONE. IT WAS A ROUGH YEAR TO GET THROUGH AND PEOPLE WOULD TELL ME ALL THE TIME THAT THEY DON'T KNOW HOW I MANAGED IT ALL AND THEY COULD NEVER DO WHAT I DID. WHAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW IS THAT I CRIED IN MY CAR, I CRIED BEFORE I WENT TO BED, AND I CRIED WHEN I WOKE UP. I CRIED WHEN I WALKED TO CLASS AND I CRIED WHEN I GOT OUT OF CLASS. I CRIED AT WORK AND I CRIED AT HOME. IT WAS THE ONLY EMOTION I HAD LEFT. BUT NO ONE KNEW IT BECAUSE I SMILED AND I LAUGHED AND I ACTED AS THOUGH LIFE WAS A-OK. BUT IT TURNED OUT WONDERFUL AND I MADE IT. EVERYDAY WAS WORTH IT IN THE END.

IT'S OFFICIAL!

I GRADUATED! I can't even believe it!!! I thought that Friday would never come and it did! I drove very carefully to ensure proper and SAFE arrival in severe fear that I would end up some tragic story about the girl who "Almost graduated" but got in a car accident instead. The day...the WEEK was perfect!! Finals ended on Tuesday and as I turned in my last final and walked to my car I didn't know if I should scream or cry so I did nothing. Of course, I had a massive breakdown as I was studying for my final so I guess the crying and screaming just came early. I left and promptly went to my friend Kelly's house in order to celebrate. We went to lunch and had a very wonderful meal and a drink to start off the week. Oddly enough, after that I ended up running some errands and doing laundry, not exactly the most exciting thing but a very necessary thing since I had a busy week ahead. On Tuesday night I was actually able to sleep since I took the night off of work which was needed because the rest of the week went a little something like this...
Wednesday morning I woke up and began getting ready for the day. It was early since I was meeting my friends Joyce and Luke for breakfast before I had to go to work. Very inconveniently I ended up with a flood in my bathroom and not enough towels to fix the problem. I ended up having to call my landlord and a plumber in order to get it fixed. This created a lack of shower situation and had to quickly make other plans. My mom was gracious enough to get up at 7AM in order for me to run over to her house and use her shower. The plan was get ready for the WHOLE day since I wouldn't have time later but that didn't happen. All I got was the shower before I had to rush home to meet my friends. We had to wait and hang out until the landlord and plumber showed up and then went to lunch (which was originally supposed to be breakfast). I was able to come home and get ready for the rest of the day since the bathroom was fixed (not necessarily dry, but fixed). I went to work and patiently waited for the time to pass which took FOREVER! My friends from Utah were coming into town and I couldn't WAIT to see them! Taylor got in first since he was driving down. We hung out for about an hour before we had to go pick up Stephen and Derek at the airport. We went straight to their hotel to check in and then spent time in their Bar and Grill which was really good. I LOVE those guys sooooo much! They mean the world to me and I was so blessed to be able to have them in town for this very special celebration. We laughed our asses off till we cried and told story after story of events that we have missed over the years of not living in the same place. We all used to be roommates too so we had plenty of stories to reminisce on. It was GREAT! We went back to my house so I could show it off and then I went to bed.
On Thursday morning I was able to sleep and then got up to begin my day. I was able to have lunch with my friend David and then headed to my mom's to pick up my Grandma and Sister from the airport. Conveniently my friends and family were staying at the same hotel (unplanned by the way!) so after we dropped off my family I just went to my friends room in order to dinner with them. Dinner was fantastic! Again, it could have been the company or the small amount of alcohol but we were having a blast either way! We walked around the mall for a little bit after dinner (the restaurant was just outside the mall) and then headed home since we had to be up early the next morning. Thursday night ended just perfect!
I wasn't able to sleep on Thursday night so I was up all night long (not anything that I haven't done before but probably something I shouldn't have done) When the time rolled around for me to get ready for graduation I did. The plan was to meet at Kelly's for breakfast and coffee and then go from there. We met, had a wonderful breakfast and went on our way. We did find it funny that after all our years of NOT eating breakfast it ended up being the last thing we did as students. I drove (like I said before, very, very carefully!) to ASU and found our place to be. The waiting felt like forever and it was a bit chilly outside. We were finally walking into the arena and it was a feeling I can't quite explain. WE WERE DONE! WE WERE DONE! WE WERE DONE! I walked across the stage, had my name called and if it weren't for pure excitement and lack of sleep I would have cried because WE WERE DONE! My mom was there to give me a hug at the bottom of the stage and the friends that I had traveled through school with were right there to celebrate as our names were called. After we sat down from there it was hard to wait. When the ceremony was all done I met with my friends and family to take pictures and plan the rest of the day. We went to lunch and had a wonderful, wonderful meal! Afterwards we all separated to do our own thing until the party. I was able to take a short nap to give the me energy I needed to keep going! Kelly and I had our party together and it was sooooooooo much fun! I can't even begin to explain it! It was perfect! We had food, drinks, games, and lots of people at the house. The perfect combination for a great party! The night ended and I was soooooooo sad to have it over. I had never felt so amazing! The night was more than what I could have asked for. The only downfall is that the next day was Saturday!
I got up and began the day with my friends from Utah for breakfast before having to take them to the airport. I tried VERY hard to convince them to stay but it didn't work. Clearly I wasn't a communication major of I should have been able to get them to not go home. I wanted them to stay so bad. I miss them so much and all the time. They made my entire week by being here. I am so thankful and so blessed to have them in my life. I was sooooooooo sad when I had to drop them off. I never wanted the week to end. After they were off, I had to get home and get ready for my evening with my mom, sister, and grandma. We went to this FABULOUS pizza restaurant that took 4 hours to get into...that's how good it was, not kidding! We were able to talk, enjoy our bottle of wine and have THE BEST pizza ever! By the time we were done with that I was EXHAUSTED! I was ready to get home and get some sleep. I slept so well and it felt great!!!
Sunday morning I got up and prepared for the day once again. I met my family for breakfast at this wonderful little place called Palette and I have never tasted breakfast that good before. I had Banana Rum Cake French Toast...made your mouth water now didn't I?! My mom always finds the little "hole in the wall" restaurants that are just perfect! Afterwards I spent the day Christmas shopping and spending time with friends just relaxing. Now I'm at work sooooooo tired but NOT complaining! Tomorrow (well, I guess technically today) I get to sleep like I have never slept before on a Monday since I don't have to be at the pool working my 2nd job. I think that my Monday overnight is going to be just fantastic since I will be well rested for the first time all semester. I CAN'T WAIT!

I don't know where or what I'm going to do from here but for now, I'm going to enjoy the fact that I can go to the gym when I want, grocery shop when I need to, read a book for fun, and SLEEP! For now, that's what I'm going to do. I'm so happy to have it all be over!

BRANDED

It has been quite the week (and a while since I have posted anything). I don't actually know where my week ends and my week begins but either way...

I volunteer for a group called Branded: A movement against the sexual exploitation of children (http://brandedphx.com/). I'm learning alot and for the first time in a really long time I have felt completely drawn to something that I can't convince myself to leave. It would be so easy to walk away and shield myself, my heart, and my mind from the things that I have seen, the things that I have heard, and the things that I will inevitably come across. But turning away is exactly what we need to not do. It's selfish. The entire thing is incredible!
On Monday there was a court hearing that involved a young girl who had spent time on the streets, forced to do the things we can't imagine and shouldn't have to imagine. Unlike most girls who are in her situation she was taken off the streets, given a place to stay, people to protect her, and the chance to overcome the fear so she would give her pimps name and location so he could be prosecuted. This is not something that happens often because it takes on average 30 days for a girl to give this information and there just isn't the time and resources (YET!) for her to feel safe enough to relinquish that information.
So the day finally came for his sentencing and although I think that the death sentence would have been appropriate, the law states otherwise and justice was served: 18 years of hard time and 5 years of intense probation. It is exciting to see this process all the way through and to see that these people can be taken off the streets and to see that justice can be served.
I am proud to be involved with this group and can't wait to see the future work that can be done. I am impressed that this organization is supported and works together within the community and works with VICE (often times the first contact with these young girls) all the way to those of us sitting around a table brainstorming new ways and new ideas to education and protect.
This is only the success story of one girl. There are many more who are out there, waiting...

A day OFF!

I have always been a fan of Veteran's Day and not just because that means that I don't have to go to school. Especially since I have been a "grown up", I have understood more and more the meaning of the day and why it is so important. I am so thankful to our troops and all that have ever served our country.
I would be lying however, if this particular Veteran's Day I said I wasn't very happy that I didn't have school! This semester has been so hard and so long and I was so excited that today I was allowed to sleep and relax.
My car has been broken and today was the perfect day to drop it off at the shop to get fixed. After dropping it off I was able to talk to my BFF Lacy who I haven't talked to in WEEKS since the cross country move away from me!!! It was a rather incoherent conversation as I was tired after my over night shift but I was so happy to hear her and talk for a bit. I can't wait till next week when we can actually talk and have a more in depth conversation. After that I had a wonderful breakfast of eggs and toast (a meal I rarely have) and then I was off to bed for a few hours. SLEEP on a TUESDAY! I was so excited I almost couldn't sleep! Wouldn't that have been a bummer?? I slept until the shop called me and told me my car was fixed and then I was up and in the shower (another gift on a Tuesday!) Showering on a Tuesday usually doesn't happen until 9PM if at all depending on if I was able to go to sleep at 4PM or 6PM (since I have to go to work at 10PM I have been known to skip the shower in order get a full 3 hours of sleep). After getting my car I made dinner with a friend which ended in a smokey kitchen due to burnt cheese but a delicious meal anyway. I played Tetris for a few hours with him until I had to go to work (in which I totally WON!).
It was a wonderful day and exactly what I needed. Of course now I am at work and waiting for the morning to come so I can go home and get more sleep but that is the true cycle of my life. Only 5 weeks left! Today was a true blessing in the semester!

What I thought was next, isn't.

Well I don't need to tell you that I'M TIRED! That is a constant so let's talk about something new!
I just spent last Friday in California at a conference for Child Life Interns. The idea was to prepare for everything from interviews and resumes to the national exam for certification. I was really excited to go and desperately needed a night away more than anything. Luckily one of my best friends, Kelly, was able to go with me which helped very, very much! We stayed in some cheap dump of a hotel that allowed me to have the greatest night sleep I have had in a very long time. I don't know if it was just because it was night time or because the room was dark, or what it was but I slept like a baby on the hardest mattress I have ever slept on. I woke up in aches and pains from it but I didn't know the difference when my eyes were closed. After spending all day Friday at UC Irvine Medical Center I became more discouraged than I was going into the conference. I thought it was supposed to give me hope, answer questions, and give me confidence in what I wanted to do. Instead I came out of it with the realization that I may not be able to reach my goal after all. When I complete my current internship I would have to apply for the competitive internship...things I already knew! (but seriously, who has to do an internship before the internship?? Oh well...)What I didn't know is that what "competitive" really means is IMPOSSIBLE! In all the hospitals in the COUNTRY there are only about 50 opportunities for this internship and about 600 applicants. It would require me to move for sure (considering in Arizona there are only 2 spots open for the internship a YEAR!) That really isn't in my financial means but would be really exciting if I could afford to pay my bills here and live in another state for 4 months. More than anything it would be really neat if I could get ACCEPTED in the first place for one of the internships. Which much to my surprise it can take on average 3 years, and that's applying twice a year, to get accepted for one of the positions. As good as the conference was it was highly discouraging. So I came home and have pondered, "What should I do with the rest of my life?" all over again. People are pretty supportive by saying things like, "something will come up!" which doesn't actually help as much because I still have be looking for the "something" in order for it to come up in the first place. Luckily with my degree there are lots of options in the field, I just need to find out what I want to do. So I think that while I try and figure it out I will substitute teach. What do you think? The application process is pretty easy (once I graduate in December) and I don't know how long it will take or how often I will be asked to teach but it can't hurt to have it on hand. Who knows?!?!
I think that if I don't become a Child Life Specialist then I would really like to work for an adoption/foster care agency or run a children's shelter or something like that (you know, the total MONEY makers in human services...that was a joke by the way). But opportunities for that may not be readily available immediately following graduation. I will start applying to different places next month but I think that the substitute teaching will give me something to do that I would really enjoy while I'm searching for my new dream job. At this point, these are all just random thoughts and I may change my mind completely tomorrow but for now, it sounds good.
Anyway, now that I have talked about all the possible jobs I could end up with, I should probably focus on the job that I currently have. Time to check on the girls and see whose baby I hear.