Busy eventful day

We had such a busy day today. Last night we drove down to my moms for a quick visit. This morning we had breakfast with my brother and his family, got a quick hair cut for me and sara, and then proceeded to an indoor easter egg hunt. After a quick bite for lunch and some candy, we raced over to my father-in-laws family birthday party. It was great for all of the kids to play with one another and to be able to catch up with all the families. I am so grateful to have a wonderful family!! We are now back in Augusta and are looking forward to a less busy trip when we return for Easter!! Goodnight to all!

Autonomy

Autonomy is synonymous with independence and leadership. How does one explain to a 4 year old, who has always been pretty independent, how to be herself and not follow someone elses lead? Sara has been in trouble twice this week and has the teacher astonished at her behavior. Here it is a Thursday and I am just finding out about it. Does anyone have suggestions?? I certainly don't know what to do except reinforce good behavior and good choices. AGHHH

The bad with the good

I just recently found out that the bank I was fired from two years ago was seized by the FDIC and closed for good last week. It just amazes me that Heavenly Father knows what we need. Had I not been inspired to continue my education I may have just lost a job. Because of the economic crisis and the fact that I was granted unemployment insurance for losing my job by no fault of my own I am still receiving unemployment payments. The Lord is GOOD!! So the moral of this post is that because we may have to go through bad times, if we trust in the Lord and the truthfulness of the gospel we will be blessed!!

A day of direction

Today I had to give my talk on finding the good in life. I felt so unqualified to give the talk because I seem to be more gloom and doom than I do about the blessings that have been given to me and my family. But tonight I am listening to the sweetest sound that occurs in my household. Darrel is reading a book to Sara as they get ready for bed. She has grown so much in the last 18 months spiritually and I can only thank her Primary teachers and the Primary Presidency in our ward. She says her prayers reverently and really thinks about what she would like to bless. She is concerned when people are upset. She comes home and teaches us everything she has learned at church. It is so wonderful. This is the good in my life. I only hope that I can teach Sara as much as she teaches me!

Brittany and Michael, Thank you guys so much for being wonderful examples to me and my family. I can't tell you enough how comforting it is to know that we have friends who will help us as much as y'all do at a moment's notice. You make me want to be better as a member of the church as well as a parent and friend. (And thanks for assigning me to talk during Sacrament today. As much as I like to give you a hard time I really did learn more about what I should do and I feel that you were inspired to have me talk.)

As time winds closer towards my graduation I am once again anticipatory as to what the future will hold for us. I pray that Darrel will receive good news that will guide where we need to be. I pray that we will be able to follow Heavenly Father's plan and be better servants of Him. I know that we are doers of His work and pray that we will be strengthened through our service in Christ. Amen

Oil for my lamp

After going to our wonderful stake relief society womens conference I have learned that I have much to do in order to be as prepared as the 5 wise virgins. I know that true happiness is from God and that with such a precious gift comes the responsibility to prepare myself temporally and spiritually in order to be welcomed when the bridegroom comes. I must make the time to prepare my family, my house, and my spirit so that I am ready. I am grateful that I was given the opportunity to learn so much about becoming self reliant and how to teach my family to prepare themselves. This has given me a wonderful boost to do what I have known I needed to do and stop procrastinating and letting worldly things interfere with Holy things. I have been uplifted and edified by such a wonderful program!

It's Official

I totally have 'senior-itis' and cannot wait until graduation. I don't exactly know why this is because I still have 12 weeks after graduation before I am finished with all of my requirements but this time of year always makes me happy.

I have discovered that I do not enjoy pediatric therapy as much as I first thought. It is not too hard, or too easy, but I just don't enjoy it. I have been praying to find a 'specialty' if you will that I will enjoy because I would like to get my board certification in an area of need. I am hoping to at least enjoy being at Eisenhower Army Medical Center this summer because it is more regimented and it is adults. Darrel accuses me of being an adult since I was 5 so maybe I am better at enjoying their company?

I really just want to make a difference in someone's life by making it easier for them to live independently. Now I just have to figure out how I am going to accomplish this. Maybe I'll go into hands and get my CHT (Certified Hand Therapist), or maybe I'll connect with older people and become specialized in geriatric care. All I know is that Heavenly Father has a purpose for me and sooner or later as I journey through life I'll find that purpose.

The dreaded "call"

It really isn't as bad as I've made it out to be!! A member from our bishopric called this evening (Thanks again Michael) and told me how much he likes to read my blog. I did think it odd that he would call in the evening just to talk about my blog but I was preoccupied with getting Sara ready for bed and did not think too much of it at the time. The phone call did end up as I expected it would. I now have been asked to speak at church in two weeks on a topic that I don't feel I am suited to talk about. I've been asked to speak on finding the good in life. Maybe this assignment is for me to be able to learn how to find the good in life. I feel like this is more for me to learn and change my life than for me to instruct others.

All in all...I do appreciate the assignment and what I will learn as I ponder and pray about it. It will also help me with everything else that I am doing at school and at home. Our primary theme this month is about organizing the house to make it so that the Holy Ghost will want to be present. And I am trying to do that now. Darrel says that I am nesting in hopes that I might soon get pregnant, but I don't know. Heavenly Father has a special way in blessing us and when He feels it is time for us to be blessed with another child we will. But as for now I am trying to make my house a more "Christ-like" house and pray that I will be more like Him!

Sara's Reward

Today Sara played her last Basketball game. Nothing eventful happened. She didn't even score a much anticipated basket as she had during practice. However, she won the hearts of many. After the game she went to purchase her coveted blowpop and all of the ladies at the concession stand congratulated her on her basket during practice. No...they were not present. But they all knew. I think the entire county now knows that Sara was able to get a basket all by herself. I was not the one to spread the news. It was her coach and his wife. How amazing is it that children can be so loved and cherished that others celebrate their accomplishments as if it were their own. And above all else...I am proud that she is mine and will be mine for the eternities.

A perfect ending to a wonderful experience

Tonight was Sara's last basketball practice. Her coaches had a surprise pizza party for the kids and one parent ordered embroidered towels and a basketball cake to celebrate.

Sara is not the best kid on the team. In fact she is the worst. But all the players, the coaches, and the ref's make her feel like she is terrific. And tonight she made her very own basket. All of the kids (which are boys) cheered for her. It was great! You would have thought she won MVP! To me she did. She learned how to pass the ball. She even learned how to dribble. She has shown the most improvement in the past 10 weeks of all the kids.

Saturday is her last game and next Saturday evening they are holding a banquet for all of the kids to celebrate the end of the season. This has truly been a memorable experience that I am glad Sara participated in.

On another note, I had the perfect opportunity to share the gospel with someone today and I only hope I did it justice. One of my Clinical instructors has been talking to me about my hopes for the future, my beliefs, etc. It is unusual for someone to ask about church and beliefs...but I am in an area where prayer is still heard in the public school system. I also have a client who's family is a considered 'part-member' family and the child's mother is very much against the teachings of the church. That is how we got on the topic today. As we were talking she gathered that I was not born into the church and on the way back to my car we talked about my conversion to the gospel. I was very careful about my word choice so as not to offend her, but I feel like I was able to share my testimony in an nonthreatening way so as to teach her. I am very glad to have had the opportunity as it is rare and I am not the most open person when it comes to sharing my feelings. Anyway, I hope that by sharing my beliefs I may have planted a seed and possibly allow the gospel to grow in someone else's heart.

Being too hard...

So I am approaching the midterm of my first rotation. I looked over the criteria that the national OT association sets forth and grades us by and felt pretty good. Today I spoke with the owner and asked questions that gave me feedback as to what I need to do or improve upon. Then I asked my hardest CI to look over my notes and give me feedback. To my surprise she said they were really good and only offered a few changes to make them more measurable. HOORAY!! I'm not as dumb as I feel;) (I know I'm not dumb...but rotations can still keep you from graduating if you do something wrong so it made me nervous)

Today we had many cancellations so I had time to catch up on my notes and practice goal writing. I came up with treatments on a moment's notice and they worked rather well. I think now that I have relaxed I am becoming more confident in my skills.

Today was a great day!! Especially for a monday! Now I just have to clean and get my house in order. Then it will be an even better great day;)