Vacation.. well, WORK

Well, my first semester back to school is over! I had a BLAST! My classes were great! I'm going to take the summer semester off and I'm already registered for Fall. I talked to a counselor at SLCC to see how much longer until I can graduate and just to see if I'm still on track, he said for me to get ready to graduate. I'll be taking 7 credits in the fall and then 6 in the Spring, then I'll graduate! I just got back from a trip back east. My work gave me the opportunity to go to the territory I work. I flew out Saturday morning(right after I was done with finals so a NICE end to the semester). My flight left at 7 am, I am so thankful that Tammy took me to the airport. I flew out with a girl on my team Jessica.

We flew to Detroit. That airport is crazy!

We got on the tram from our terminal and had to go to from there almost to the other side of the world (it felt). From the tram we had to walk thru this tunnel which was AMAZING. It had awesome lights that changed colors and had relaxing music :)

We flew from Detroit to Newark, NJ. There we were picked up by the rep that we would be working with the next few days that got this trip worked out for us, Stacey. It was AMAZING! She told me she would be picking us up in a black car, I never thought it would be a LIMO!

She gave us the royal treatment when we got there. There we went to Manhattan and ate a Thai restaurant called PEEP. It was so fun! Where the bathroom is, is a one sided mirror. People in the bathroom can look out but people can't look in. Kind of gives you stage fright :) There Stacey told us she had ANOTHER surprise for us..BLUE MAN GROUP! That show was SOO much fun! From there, we went to Times Square. I found ELMO in the middle of Times Square. Elmo was Asian asking for money lol We got to the hotel late. The hotel we stayed at was in Bethlehem, PA called Sands. Sunday was a day of R&R. I went shopping at the stores there. Got myself a new purse and wallet. Even played my first time at a casino. AND I DIDN'T LOSE ANY MONEY! Ate at great restaurants there (Carnegie Deli and Emeril's Italian restuarant) Monday and Tuesday we got to experience the field of sales for the company. It was CRAZY! Long days of running around. We ate at WONDERFUL places (panini's, italian, and my favorite.. SUSHI) Wednesday we left PA in the rain got to Newark to fly to Minneapolis. That airport is MASSIVE! I'm not sure if it's a mall in the airport or an airport in the mall. While at the gate, I saw about 7 missionaries waiting to get on our flight to come home to Utah. I went up and talked to them and actually found out that one of them actually lives close by me and his best friends dad is my bishop in my current ward! Small world! I am so glad to be home now. I was missing my bed. Nancy, Tyler and Grayson picked me up from the airport. Tyler was so cute and was cheering for me when I came down the escalator. I was so ready to hit my bed and fall asleep. I'm so grateful for the trip back there but I am so grateful for where I live.

New Year

A new year has come! There are a lot of changes in my life that I am happy about. I start school at Salt Lake Community College this upcoming week. It has been quite a long time since I've been at school. I have finally decided what I REALLY wanna go into and I REALLY excited about it. I have decided to focus on Psychology. I will be taking 3 classes at Salt Lake Community that are all Psychology classes. I'm a little nervous about classes because it has been so long but overall, I am really excited because most of my credits have transferred over from the previous schools and I am close to getting my associates done.

I had a wonderful Christmas! A wee before Christmas, I had the chance to go to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas concert and The Spoken Word (on Dec.18). I got the tickets from my boss who wasn't able to go. We had the best seats. I got 3 tickets, I got them for my mom. She grew up with Mack Wilberg (the choir director) and she has always wanted to go to the Christmas concert. We got there early that Sunday morning. We got in line at about 7. We visited with people in line and finally those doors opened. My parents and I went and got a seat, they were EXCELLENT seats! We were sitting in the same section as President Monson! We were able to watch the choir practice. It was amazing. There were 2 guests this year for the concert, Nathan Gunn and Jane Seymour. It was amazing and the spirit there was so amazing. The very last song that was sung by the choir was for the 2 guests, God be With You. It was all Acapella, just SOO amazing! Not a dry eye!

Since I have been at Myriad for 5 years, I was able to get the Christmas break off. It was my first year getting this break and it was much needed. My parents came up on Friday before christmas. My dad had a sleepover with the kids upstairs. They were so excited to have grandma and grandpa able to sleep at their house now. Me and my mom slept downstairs in my own little "house". Christmas morning, we were able to see the Gale kids open their gifts. Then we went down to spend some time with the Browns. Tyler and Grandpa were having a lot of fun putting his race track up on the wall. We came up to my ward for church. It was so much fun having my parents up for Christmas. After church, my parents went up to Logan to see the Labrum kids. I headed over to spend time with Abdul's family. We had a nice dinner and I got to meet his parents. Monday afternoon, me and my parents headed up to Logan to the hotel so they could go to the temple Tuesday morning with the Labrum's. Isaac was being sealed to the family. You can read the story ehere. Tuesday was the day that the family has been waiting for. Since I am not able to in the temple with the family, I got to watch the rest of the kids. After the temple sealing, we all headed out to the Labrum home for the blessing of Isaac and for food :) It was so nice to see the family and for time to visit. After the eventful day, headed home with Tammy and the kids.

This whole break I was having extreme knee pain. Not able to put much weight on me knee. I was just thinking it was because of the cold weather. But everyday it was just getting worse. I would just wear my knee brace and keep treking along hoping it would get better. Finally, after the trip the Logan I made an appointment with my orthopedic surgeon just to take a look at the knee. He looked at the leg, range of motion, etc. We decided on giving me a cortisone shot and if that didn't work then we would do an MRI. The cortisone shot worked for about 3 days. I'm back to not being able to walk much, having to wear the knee brace at all time so my knee doesn't give out on me. I have contacted the doctor and they are working on getting me into the MRI. As of yesterday, my insurance has denied the authorization for the MRI, not sure WHY. My doctor did tell me he is worried that I have a torn meniscus.

I am really working on keeping a positive attitude about everything. My goal for 2012 is to be a person each day then I was the day before. I control my life and I will not allow anyone to ruin my day. I learned so much from 2011. Everything happens for a reason. I don't think that if I was still where I was at, I would be going back to school and progressing with my life. Everything happens for a reason! I had to have the life changing experience that I had to help things come out in the open and I don't think that I would've been able to handle things if they happened any other way.

New Changes

Wow, I can't believe it has been 2 months since I posted last. A lot has happened since I posted last. I had my birthday, I'm now 29 (next year I'll be the big 3-0) We had a family get-together (and we all loved it!) Thanksgiving, and... I MOVED BACK TO SALT LAKE!

I live in a house with Tammy and her family. We found a nice house in Salt Lake where I have the downstairs and the family has the upstairs. We share the laundry room and the kitchen. I have my own little living room, bedroom and bathroom. It's really close to the freeway so I can just jump on and make it to work within 15 minutes. It was so nice to get my stuff back, it was kind of like Christmas opening up my stuff again!

I am so thankful for Nancy and Dallas. They opened their home to me and let me move in with them. It was a hard move for me because I LOVED waking up and seeing Tyler every morning and night. There is just something special about that boy that I just love and I miss him so much! I'm also going to miss seeing Grayson grow up. I had so much fun seeing him grow the few months I was there.

Today we had the Labrum family Christmas Party. This is a tradition with my dads family that has always gone on the 2nd Saturday of December. This year, it just seemed different. Growing up, there was always TONS of snow! All of the cousins would meet and we would have our snowsuits on and we would go and play in the snow before the party started. This year... the little kids were outside playing without coats on! It is always fun to get together with the Labrum family. There is always so much love and the family always knows what is going on and they care so much!

The month of December is such an eventful one this year for the family. Barrett and Chantel got the adoption finalized with Isaac! AND, on the 27th Isaac will be sealed to them in the Logan LDS temple. I am SO excited for Barrett and Chantel!

That is just a quick update of what has been going on the past few months.

I am grateful of the tender mercies I am given

I have never really looked forward to conference. When I was in primary, they would always give us the conference BINGO and we had M&M's and I would enjoy the M&M's more then playing the game. I never understood conference.

After so much has gone in my life over the past month, I was really looking forward toconference. So much that I got up right before conference and I took my blanket downstairs and had my notebook and pen with me so I could take notes. I really wanted to get as much as out on conference as I could. There were so many talks that I really needed to hear and I knew that the Lord was speaking to me.

One talk I really enjoyed was Bro Packer. Some things I got out of his talk are:
*Gospel plan is the center of the family
*All physical bodies have power over the temptation
*Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost
*Words of Christ come as a feeling not as a voice
*With repentence, the Lord says "I the Lord remember them no more"

Keys from Pres. Uchdorf's talk
*The prisoner holds the key and it needs to be unlocked from the inside.
*Only repentance can heal what hurts no matter what it is
*You will be sealed and protected by the advesary IF you will head the prompting that come from the holy ghost.
*Dress modestly
*Talk reverently
*Listen to uplifting music
*Avoid all immorality and degrading practice
*Take hold of your life, we depend so much on you,you will be remarkable blessed. You're never far from the side of your heavenly father
*Lucifer will lose the battle.

Me and Nancy went to her friends baby's birthday so we missed the Saturday afternoon session. I got home and didn't feel well so I took a nap.

Sunday, I listened to both sessions and I REALLY enjoyed every talk.
I really enjoyed Bro Robert D Hales
*We have trials to help us grow and to strengthen us. We wait upon the Lord to test.
*They are all for our experience and for our own good.
*"THY WILL BE DONE"
*Wait on the Lord is like planting a seed--Plant a seed on the Lord and nourish it, ponder it, stand fast.
*Line upon line, precept upon precept
*Answers will come. He knows our sacrifices and sorrows
*Blessings are eternal not temporary

Bro Tad Callister
He did a good job about explaining how different religions can have different interpretations of the bible and he likened it to a circle. How many lines can go thru a circle, INFINITE. Then he put another circle out to the side. How many lines can go to one circle to another, only one. One circle was the bible and the other the Book of Mormon.
*God is the same yesterday, today and forever. If you believe in Christ you will believe in these words

One of my favorite quotes of ALL of conference, came from Sister Elaine S Dalton, General Young Women President
*Value Womanhood
*Satan is clever, he does not need to break down the door
*Fathers are showing what true love is
*Priesthood is connected to heaven
*If she is late coming home from a date, GO GET HER!
My favorite...
**BE LOYAL TO THE ROYAL**


Brother Ballard told us
*We took name on us in baptism
*Savior is only name under heaven which man may be saved
*The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is Jesus Christ's church and we are the Latter-day followers
*Jssus Christ is the Savior and Redeemer
*Stand as a witness at all times and in all places and in places
*In old times we were called Christians, now we are called Mormons. Please refrain from "Mormon" use the full name of the church

Bro. Dallin H Oaks
*When you consider all the things the Lord has done for you, why not go to church?
*Whatever shall be bound on earth shall be bound in heaven.
*Comforter will teach you all things, guides you all things
*Focus on HIM, not on the things of the world
*The Lord is the Bread of life.
*He is LIVING bread
*Blood shed for the many for the remission of sin
*He will judge according to their works
*The Atonement gives a chance to overcome spiritual death

Bro Randall Bennett
*Choose eternal Life
*When you make a choice, you are choosing the consequence.
*We have 2 choices: Follow the Lord, Follow the World
*We all have made choices and made errors---repent
*Savior will remember sins no more
*Never too late to choose eternal life

Pres Monson announced 6 new temples!
1) Provo Temple (rebuilding the Provo tabernacle into a templ)
2) Barranquilla, Columbia
3) Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
4) Durban, South Africa
5) Star Valley, Wyoming
6) Paris, France

I got so much out of conference and I got so many prayers answers. I know that so many of the talks were just what I needed

Gratitude

The past week has been a lot easier going to work. I can't remember the last time it was this easy going to work. When I was with Mike, he always tried to convince me to take time off. I didn't like to take time off, but I also wanted to spend time with him. It made me feel like our roles were turned and I should be more of the one staying at home and he needed to be the one off working. But I knew that was never going to change. I LOVE my job, I'm glad I have stuck with it and it is the one thing that keeps my mind busy right now.

I have learned a lot the past few weeks while staying at Nancy's. Tyler really cheers me up. How can he not when you wake up to a sweet, innocent little boy saying to you "Oh, hello Nicky Poo Poo. I'm so glad to see you" Whether he is really glad to see you or not, nobody will ever know. He walks me to the door every morning and he will push me out the door and say "i'll see you after work and after my school. I love you!"

Last night in his bed time prayers, he said to "please bless nicky poo, mom-e, dad-e, tyler the professor, and baby grayson that we can talk to dr walker about going to the beach with mickey mouse" He wants me to go on his make-a-wish trip with him. That makes me feel so loved by him. Also by Nancy and Dallas that they are going to do what they can to make that happen.

I cannot even tell my family thank you enough for everything you do for me. A special thank you to my parents. Mom and Dad,you are the best parents ever! You are so supportive ad understanding. I'm trying to understand and get back on the path, it takes time and effort and prayer.. I'm trying. I'm reading a lot, praying a lot..

Nancy and Dallas--I can say thank you til I'm blue in my face. You guys have given me a home when I didn't have one. You are helping me mentally, physically and spiritually. thank you, thank you, thank you! I love you guys so much

Tammy and Josh--Thanks for being there, even just to listen. Sometimes that's all I need. I really appreciate and I know I haven't told you guys enough. I love you

Barrett and Chantel--Thanks for helping me store some of my belongings up there. it lifted a lot of stress off of me and helped me know that I will still be able to have stuff after these next few months. Having you guys back is really good!

I know that My family is probably thinking... another depression with Nicky.. I'm so sorry. I'm trying to pull out of it. I love you guys so much for helping me with this.

I also want to thank my friends. They know who they are (even though I know they don't read this blog) but i have told them all specifically thank you for everything that they do. They are so amazing in my eyes..

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Is it really 10 years!?!

When I think back to 9/11, I can remember the day so vividly. I can remember the smell, the feel of the air... I was in my first year at Snow College I was living with one of my best friends, Alissa Jacobson. That Tuesday morning, I got up and was going to my Microbiology lab. I want to say it was the first one of the school semester. The class started at 7, so nothing happened before class. When the class got out at 9, I got to my car and turned on the local college radio station and that's when I heard the news... The World Trade Center was just attacked and an airplane ran into it. I didn't believe it. I didn't live that far from the campus but our apartment didn't have cable yet, so I slowly drove myself home and sat in the parking lot of my house so I could hear more. I got home and I immediately called my mom. I knew she would know what was going on. She was at work but she got on and she confirmed that it was real, a plane had hit the building. She told me I NEED to find a TV! I knew then that this day was going to be something I was going to remember for the rest of my life. This was something different, something tragic. Our neighbors had cable, so we had all crammed into their house. When I say we, I'm saying that literally. I lived with girls from the Snow College basketball team, and ALL of the team (and their roommates) crammed into that the apartment. (We were all really tight that year)

We all missed class that day. I did go to my afternoon class, but we didn't do anything. All of the classes had the News on, the teachers didn't want to miss anything.

That night, the bishop of my college ward called a special prayer. We met at the church and I don' remember much about the prayer but I remember him telling all of us to be prepared for a lot of change. Things are never going to be the same. But the Sunday before the attack, there was a fireside and he said to remember what was said in the fireside (I don't remember what was said). I do remember Bishop saying if we need to, top our cars off with gas, because the gas prices are going to raise and we will see them over $4/gal (we were all in shock!) He made sure to tell us that we were all going to be ok but things were never going to be the same after the events that happened that day. Boy, was he right. You should have seen the line of cars at Maverick that night, everyone wanted to put gas in their cars and make sure we were all full :)

10 years later, I look back and see everything that has gone on. Gas prices have gone up $4/gal. I was thinking the other day that Lexi (my niece) was alive but she was only 1. She has no recollection of what went on. That all the little kids will have to learn about this in history class and I lived through it. I got to see it! That is just amazing to me. This past week in the Emery County Progress they had an article that the kids were going to learn about 9/11 and I thought to myself, why do they need to "learn" about it.. Then it hit me, they were so little! That just really shocks me. It doesn't seem that it was that long ago, but it was 10 years ago! (am I getting that old)

While looking through pictures and videos of all the 9/11 memories, the emotions from that day come back. The days after 9/11, I remember we got the newspaper at our house, I would save the newspaper. I have them tucked away in my cedar chest. I knew that someday someone might want to see things in those paper. I guess I learned that from my grandpa Rue. I have the front page of the paper the day after with a picture of the Twin Towers getting hit.

So, where were you when the world stop turning, that September day? Heaven got a lot of angels that day.

Does this Roller Coaster have seat belts?

A lot has happened the past week for me in my life. I never thought I would have had to go through this all over again, but I do. I was so happy with Mike (or so I thought) and we were fine (or so I thought). Last Tuesday while I was at work, I got the most random email from him. I just got done talking to him and he was fine. He then emailed me and said that he was going back to his wife and kids and then said thanks for everything. My world felt like it had shattered. I sat there just looking at this email. It felt so surreal. I went into my boss' office and they (my boss and coworker) and my boss told me to sit in her office, I just cried. She told me I needed to go home and see what all he took from the house. I didn't want to face the fact that he was gone. At least not alone. So I called my sister Nancy, I was crying on the phone and I asked her if she could meet me at my house because Mike left. I got to the house the same time she did. I walked in and there were things thrown all over the house. I didn't know where to even start. I am so grateful I had her there to help me compose myself and to help me figure out what I needed to do. We got the locks changed so he couldn't get in, since he didn't leave the house key. I talked to the manager and told her that no matter what he is NOT allowed in the house. There were a lot of choices me and Mike made that probably weren't the best choices and now I have to live with them. He left me with $4 in my account. I cannot even start to tell my family how grateful I am that they are there for me. That night, I stayed at Nancy's. I was able to get really good sleep that night (thanks to sleeping meds). I didn't make it into work that next day, but my boss completely understood!

Wednesday, Tammy came down with Koy (she had a dentist appointment) and her and Nancy took me out to lunch. Nancy also made me an appointment with a therapist. It was good to have them here and just knowing that my sisters were there to cry to. It was really good to talk to a therapist who didn't have any connections with the situation and could just listen and didn't really have to give any input but she did tell me that I did nothing wrong. She did encourage me to cry a lot and if needed, take a lot of walks. Knowing that I have had this similiar thing happen in the past (twice) I keep thinking, what is wrong with me.

Thursday and Friday I did go to work and start in on my normal routine. It was hard, I cried a lot and I would cry out of the blue. But I pulled through. I have a lot of coworkers and a boss who really cares.

Saturday morning, we went to the Hydrocephalus walk at Sugarhouse Park. That was fun to enjoy that with Tyler. That was just the beginning of the family filled weekend. My parents came up that day because Grayson was getting blessed in church. After much thinking and talking with my family, we decided that the best thing for me to do is move out of my apartment that I was living in and move into Nancy and Dallas' house in the spare room for a few months. So Saturday, that's what we started doing. We got A LOT packed! My dad is just amazing. He had a torn meniscus and he was helping me pack. Mom did what she does best, held the baby while we packed (she's a grandma!) By the time we were done that night, we were so done!

Sunday we got up and went to Grayson's blessing. It was good to go back to church. It has been a long time. While I was sitting there between my brother and sister, I had so many thoughts going through my mind. This is what I want; I want someone who can sit with me and my family at church, someone who will come and be with my family. My family has played such an important role the past week, I want whoever is in my life to know that my family is always going to be in my life, NO MATTER WHAT. Later that night, we went and moved the bigger items from the apartment. My brother was so helpful and he bought my couches from me. (He really needed the loveseat for his office but oh well, he still helped out) and he stored my bed for me.

Monday we took all the stuff up to Cache Valley cuz we were heading up to the land of the cows for the Labrum Family Reunion! It was so good to be around all my family. I had my cousins and aunt and uncles come up and just ask if I was ok. They are such a strength.

So, now here I am. I am living at Nancy's. It's hard to know that a week ago all this happened. But I am so proud that I have been able to pull through this. I know that if it wasn't for my family, I don't know how I could've done it. I know I will definately have my ups and downs. Since this is the 3rd time this has happened, I just have to keep telling myself that the guy out there for me must be FABULOUS because look at all this that I have had to go through for him.

I just cannot tell my family thank you enough. They are/have/will be doing so much for me. I will forever be in debt to you.