One Week Later

Almost a month and a half ago my body must have decided it had a great dislike for my comfort. The pains on my lower left side were reminiscent of pains I had two years ago that caused me to lose my right ovary. I ignored them, berated them, angered over them, and finally accepted them.  After a few missed days from work and consult with my doctor I had what seemed to be 3 options in front of Casey and me. None were an easy path.
Option 1: Get pregnant FAST! Now to some this may seem like a no-brainer. Casey and I want to be parents. We have been offered support and love from family members. We have dear friends who have benefited and had blessed results from fertility treatments. What could be the harm? Why wasn't this the logical answer? Well... It just wasn't. It wasn't a good fit for us. The same way surrogacy wasn't a good fit. I had medical concerns about my faulty womb. Spending that amount of money and investing so much hope only to have my body reject a fetus was asking a lot. How do I know it would do that? Well I have a track record. Chemical pregnancies as well as a family line of miscarriage and heartbreak. I truly did not think I could emotionally, physically, or mentally (and right truthfully financially) handle a let down of that proportion. Casey felt the same. We had tried some fertility treatments before and it is a difficult journey. Anyone who has endured the ups and downs of treatments understands. We had to rule that option out. It hurt. So very badly did it hurt to admit that although someday we would HAVE children, I would not BEAR those children. It was through much prayers and soul searching that we determined that although it was painful, there is no easy way to be a parent and the Lord would provide the right path for us if we put our trust in Him. Someday I will post more on how children's movies helped me a lot in learning that families are built in many different ways. To name a few as silly as they may be, Tarzan, Lilo & Stitch, and Up.
Option 2: Hormonal Therapy: Now doesn't that sound just awesome. To be honest I've been doing HRT since I was about 14. I have always had to be on some kind of hormonal medication in order to function. Either to prevent cysts, or to stop endometriosis from growing, or to keep me sane, I've needed it. I've gone off of it only to try to have children. Only with the hopes that my body would work properly. It is that sense of hope I had that was so dangerous. I know that sounds incredibly dramatic and self indulgent. But it's true. While on drugs I would think to myself, "if I can just be off of them for 6 months or more without a problem, maybe we can pursue pregnancy." I would do that. A problem would arise. I would go back on them. It was a really crappy cycle. To remain on them sounded exhausting. Honestly I was already tired. I didn't like the idea of doing that loop-de-loop any more before everything broke down anyway.  Also if I was to graduate my hormones to big girl status to really fight my disease I would get the joys of a "false" menopause. Bone density loss, possible facial hair growth and several other not so fun results. Oh please sign me up. Being on temporary hormones also kept me from committing or admitting that maybe pregnancy wasn't the answer for us. It's hard to focus on adoption paperwork when in the back of your mind you think there may still be a way.
Option 3: Hysterectomy/Oopherectomy: So ominous. So scary. So final. It was the finality of this option that caused me to pause. It required full commitment to something drastic and some consider needless. It also meant I would STILL be on freaking HRT! Only this time it was for real menopause. Menopause?!? At age 30.
What the frak?
When you look up menopause you see things like, weight gain, mood swings, hot flashes... And that is just a few bits of the fun. Is THAT worth it? Given with only one ovary I was more than likely to go into early menopause anyway just as my mother had. In a way I'm envious of her. This sounds awful but at least she didn't have a choice. She didn't have to weigh the options and pick a course of action. No instead her broken and beaten body completely rebelled and she had no choice at 23 but to go under the knife. I'm not saying her way was better or easier. I just wish at times my analytical mind wouldn't have to come into play.
Anyway, with all that fun ahead of me a person might think, then WHY would you consider this surgery?
Doesn't it seem like the worst choice of the three?

To others it would be. For some it may have been the middle choice. For me, it was the best option for my family and myself. Does that make it easy or painless. Absolutely not. Believe me there has been much pain. Less emotional that I originally thought. I only had one or two moment of overwhelming emotion. But for the most part this decision brought about more peace than I had had in years. It closed the door on option one so completely that it felt as if a weight had been lifted. It laughed comically at option two. If I was going to have to be in menopause it would be real dammit.
It made me consider who I really am. 
I am not anything more or less than what I was before a surgical knife administered the first cut.
I still have my laugh and sense of humor. My eyes still change color based on what I'm wearing. My heart still hopes to nurture, love, support, and give kindness to others. I am me. With or without my womb.

A week later I am, okay. My incisions still ache. My mobility is limited. I am very tired.
But I am a peace with our decision of surgery. I like that now is the time to move forward and trust myself, my dear husband, and the Lord. I am moved by the sympathy and tenderness others have shown me. I am grateful and incredibly blessed.

Love
H.

My lack of Blog

The days are long, the years are short. - Gretchen Rubin

Time is flying right? I was just barely adjusting to October and feeling ready for Halloween fun when in a flash it was over and now we are looking strait into Thanksgiving, Birthdays, and shopping insanity! All my good intentions are getting carried away in the cold gusts of air that fall is bringing.

I wish in the hustle and bustle I had more to report on. Nope.
I have a new calling in Primary teaching CTR 6. They are a fun albeit hyper class. I'm excited though because I needed a little sweet simple gospel in my life at this time. It kind of rejuvenates my spirit to get back to the basic truths that my testimony is founded on.

Casey is now on a different catalog at school so hopefully he will graduate next fall semester. Crossing fingers eyes and toes for that one. We are BOTH very ready for him to be done with school. Given he wants his masters after that but for now we are just happy that he may be finished sooner what his current education.

I drew Casey's blood for the first time last week. It was a little nerve wracking. For him because ya know, needles.... For me because of his fears I didn't want to mess up and add to those fears. He told me that after the initial sting of the poke he didn't feel anything and that it was a really good experience. I think it was for both of us. I find it harder to draw loved ones. I've now drawn my mother and my husband. I think I could take on any other family or friend now with the exception of my father. That would be to much for me right now. Not sure why.

Speaking of parents they are hopefully coming up for my BDay/Thanksgiving! I currently have a long list of household tasks to complete before they come.
Maybe I should start on that......another long day lol

Big love,
H

Wish I had a Clever Title

So lately it seems every post on here is either about A.) Blood, blood donations, blood banking, working at a blood bank, etc. or B.) My cats....
Wow, I mean that is super exciting! lol

Honestly nothing more has happened lately. Today at the blood bank I did my first draw on a donor. Complete success! Hooray for all!!! It's nerve wracking, not because I'm nervous to poke someone with a needle but there are so many more steps to it. Someone asked me today outside work, what's the difference? I like to say they are two different animals. Clinical phlebotomy (what I learned in school) is a lion. Blood donation phlebotomy (what I'm working in now) is a tiger. Both are awesome but now I'm adjusting to having stripes.  Each day I work here I love it more and more. It's a positive atmosphere with people who encourage you to have success. For someone of my mind frame that is huge.

Nothing else new with the cats either...Two of them went to the vet today for routine checkups, teeth cleaning, so on, the other two will go next month.

So what to talk about? Father's Day was nice. I got to talk to my dad quickly before he went off to bed. We also got to have dinner at my in laws and spend time with my father in law. I had a thought that evening of how blessed I have been in my life to have men of honor, integrity, humor, strength, and love be a part of it. Not only my own dad and my FIL, but for other men such as my so called adopted dad Greg, my Uncles Gene and Don, my Godfather Jock, Gramps, and my wonderful Uncle Albert. So many amazing men have shown me what a real man is in different ways. I get to add to that list my loving husband. Although we haven't had the joy of children yet enter our lives he constantly exemplifies what I want in the father of my children. And he pushes me to be the type of woman I want/need to be. It's a wonderful blessing.

Well that's about it. Sorry for the short post but I just wanted to give a quick update. We have been very blessed as of late but nothing really has changed that needs reporting. To any who read this, thank you and I love you. Til next time!

H.

So far in Spokane...

I am now two weeks into training for INBC in Spokane, WA. So far it's been really nice..... overwhelming but nice.....
Our first few days we spent talking with reps from HR about benifits, rules, so on and on and on and on.... We had the opportunity to observe (and even help a little) at a large blood drive at a high school in Spokane last Friday as well. The organized chaos of this company is amazing. It looks like everything is hectic and insane but it's all for a purpose when setting up. It was pretty awesome.
This week we have mostly been working on training in donor histories. You know when you go to donate blood and they double check your questionnaire and then take your vitals and what not to confirm you eligable? That's what we are working on right now. Go figure Heather does not do well with "donors" who are slightly confrontational. I think I'm so worried about making matters worse that my flight syndrom kicks in. Now some who have known me in the past may be calling B! S! because once upon a time I didn't seem to have a problem calling someone out, or responding. But with age and different life experiences I have figured out that when I DO respond to someone who is confrontational it usually just makes things worse and it's best to just not get into that situation at all. I don't like the negative adrenaline that I feel is associated with confrontation. Our trainer is working with me so that adrenaline level can eventually just get lower and lower until I'm no longer feeling that way. Some of you may be thinking "if people are volunteering to donate blood, why would they get confrontational?" Well short answer, not everyone is patient with our process, and we ask A LOT of personal questions that deal with risky behavior. So there ya go.
We have also worked a little on QC (quality checks.) Next week we get to actually do them and it will count! I'm so excited to be on the floor and doing something for real!

The only down side to this is being away from Casey all week long. This weekend is kind of a bust too because I got home last night and he had to leave today for meeting in....SPOKANE! lol Happily I have Memorial day off so we get SOME time together before I head back up yonder.
I haven't ventured out very much in Spokane. I'm not the biggest fan of the town. But I have had the opportunity
to go to the Temple and take pictures. Next week I want to go downtown to do the same.

It was such a relaxing thing to do. To walk around temple grounds and see all the beauty there.

I am excited to go back next week to finish training in Spokane for a while. Then I get to be here at home for two weeks to train in the facility here. I'm super excited to do that! Then one more week up in Spokane and the the rest of my job training will be in Lewiston.
I'm making some good friends and so far I have met a ton of nice people with this company. It isn't like they all have care bear DNA or anything but it's as if we each have that underlying goal to promote blood donations and be a part of something bigger than we each are. The result is a positive atmosphere full of respect and pleasantness. I love that.
Well until next time!
Love,
H

A Tragic Tail....

So yesterday was full on crazy. We had a great day a church. A nice dinner of breakfast items. And a cat that needed part of her tail amputated.

Let me back up.
We got home last night about 6:30 from a friends house. We were going about our business at home of some chores and what not. All the cats were underfoot. It's the norm here. Anyway, I went to go to the bathroom and our kitty Hazelnut was sitting outside the door. (She always has sat there. She likes it for some reason.) Casey was on the outside of the bathroom in that hall and we both went to close the door.
Then we heard a screech like a hell-beast on fire.
Poor little Hazelnut had flicked her tail into the crack of the door and when it shut, it shut on her tail.
Now normally cats can have a little accident like this and nothing really happens. It's like shutting your finger in a door. It doesn't always end in tragedy. I guess this was not one of those simple moments.
For whatever reason all we can figure is she panicked and tried to pull her tail out. Well by doing so she stripped it of about 3 inches worth of skin, muscle and fur so the bone was completely exposed.
Casey called the vets emergency line and grabbed her carrier. (Well not really her's. Cuzco's carrier was closer but we didn't really care at that point.) I went to catch her. She was hiding and shaking and bleeding in our bedroom. How fun right? I wrapped her up in a towel and got her into the carrier. We then said a quick prayer and off we went. I explained on the phone to the emergency line what happened but she had her tail tucked so far we didn't really get to see the damage until later. We also called my father in law just in case our heads were to pumped full of adrenaline to think clearly. Although outwardly I was pretty calm and so was Casey there was just an edge of panic I could feel.
We then got to the vets office. It took our vet about 10 minutes to show up. The weekend worker had Hazelnut all checked in and ready for him so as soon as we got there he only had to weigh her and listen to her heart. He pronounced her a very healthy kitty minus the obvious injury. He then explained the procedure he was going to have to do. He would have to amputate from the top of the healthiest not exposed vertebrae. He then said that we could pick her up in the morning. My FIL also stated we may not want to see this. I brazenly proclaimed it wouldn't bother me, and that I would stay with her. I hated the idea of her being alone during surgery and then alone all night. The weekend person had left and I didn't even see any other animals. I couldn't leave her without making sure after surgery she was comfortable (as possible) and okay.  Casey gave me a glance and said he would stay for the surgery too. (That honestly made me nervous. My husband does NOT do well with needles, and cutting, and medical stuff.)
I held her while the vet sedated her. He made small chit-chat. Casey at some point mentioned my phlebotomy certification and the fact blood and other stuff really doesn't bother me. The vet then smiled and said, "Well if you are comfortable with medical things, and you promise not to call me all night long, I see no reason you can't take her home with you after so she doesn't have to be here alone." Exactly what I was worried about. I promised I wouldn't bug him until the morning and he laughed.
When he shaved her tail it showed the damage went farther than we all thought. I held her tail for him (even though I know he was capable to doing everything on his own. I think he just wanted to make me feel useful.) He cleaned it. (That part DID make me wince. I know she was out, but the idea of cleaning exposed bone just makes me shudder.) Then he put on a tourniquet and I held her tail up while he talked out loud of each step he was doing. Cutting down the muscle and skin, cutting around this vertebrae, so on so forth.
Casey was given the job of making the carrier a comfy place for her to ride home in. He didn't watch the icky part, and I don't blame him one bit.
After her stitches were finished and everything was cleaned up we then found out I had left my wallet (and our money to pay for the surgery) at home. He then joked that we could come back in the morning and pay. After all Dr. Bell (the other vet at their office) knew where I lived. (She made a house call a few months ago to update all their shots.)
We got her home and settled in the bathroom. It's dark and quiet and a great place for her to rest. It's also one of her favorite places in the house.

Taken only a couple days ago. She loves to sleep in the sink.  What a cute tip of her tail huh?

I'm home from work today to keep an eye out. Right now she is snoozing in the cat tree in the living room near Blitzen, Cuzco, and Izabel.

It's so nice when they are like this and not torturing each other.

We are trying to have a happy mix of quiet alone time for her, and being with the rest of the family to her spirits stay up. A lot of people don't realize that while in recovery many cats can get depressed and it makes it hard for them to heal. So she needs to be with the other cats but a few times I've had to put her back in her hiding place because like anybody who has just had a trauma and is healing, she gets cranky after a while.

Taken today. Poor Hazelnut. She's got a stub.

We both feel terrible for this happening. It was an accident sure but it sucks still. It's silly but when I think of how her tail used to be only a day ago I want to cry. She was so cute with her tail. You would always be able to tell how happy she was because it would stick up and have a question mark curl at the end. She also liked to wrap it around your legs. I feel horrible because she was supposed to come into our home to have a better life. But she still purrs when we pet her, and chirps, and I know she will recover. I just wish she didn't have to.

 Love
H

New Job!

So this is where I will be working soon!

I am so excited/grateful/blessed that I have this opportunity. It's one of those things that I am truly humbled by.

Once upon a time my mother became very ill and needed a blood transfusion. I've had other loved ones that have needed it as well, or needed plasma, or platelets. So when I was of age I started donating blood. I admit my reasons were not always selfless. Um, YOU GET COOKIES?! Yeah, if dessert is involved I'm usually there. I also did it because sick as this sounds I have always been fascinated by blood. Even as a little kid I thought it was cool. If I happened to hurt myself playing or riding my bike or whatever, even if it hurt I couldn't help but stare at my wound with fascination. How the body can regenerate and heal itself is amazing!
So anyway, I also wanted to feel cool like I helped someone who might need it. I know, I know, not the most generous of motives. But gradually as I learned about blood donation and about my own blood type (All O Neg say AYE-YO!) I realized the great importance of blood donation.

Here is a link to INBC's page that can give a ton of info to anyone who wants to know more. My fingers would get cramped if I tried to type all of it here! lol
http://www.inbc2.org/Donating_Blood/About_Blood/Blood_Facts.html

So anyway, after learning some of these facts I realized how important a service it was to donate blood. For me personally I feel the need also because my blood type can go to anyone, although it is ideal to receive your specific blood type. I decided because of that I would donate any chance I got. And I have. There have been times when because of medication or other I haven't been able to and that always made me sad. This is one thing in my life that I know my service is valuable.
After moving here 6 years ago I decided I register my name with INBC. It's not that I'm against the Red Cross or any other organization, I've donated with other places too. And I can say I've never had a bad experience. I just liked the atmosphere if INBC, so I've stuck with them.
I'm not sure why I never thought of pursuing phlebotomy as a career before where I am so passionate about blood donation. For one I didn't even know that it was called. I also thought for a long time it was nurses who did the procedure so I knew I wasn't up for that! But then about this time last year I saw an ad in the paper for the INBC for a phlebotomist. I called and asked a ton of questions about what the job was and how someone got certified for that. Well it turned out our very own LCSC had a course I could take. (Right place, right time, right frame of mind? Yes indeed.) We actually have two colleges you can take the course from up here. The Clarkston branch of the Walla Walla Community College also teaches it.
For years I had been searching for something I could gain an education and actually use in real life so I thought, hey this is a trade I would love to learn! And I did. It was hard but rewarding. But also nerve wracking. Because two colleges serve to train people in clinical phlebotomy there aren't often jobs open in this area.
I was more than nervous about the fact I had spent a lot of money on a education that I might lose my skills in if I didn't use them soon. I had several job interviews and nothing was working out. I was frustrated and angry with myself. I felt like a failure. Happily my Heavenly Father has a bigger perspective than me.
I've had to wait a year to donate because of traveling to Mexico. (See former posts about what happened when I was finally able to go again.)
Ta-da! It's been a trial of patience for sure. Two interviews, a quick check from previous employers and such, filling out a ton of paperwork, a drug screen, and now waiting on Texas to show in my final background check that I'm not some criminal freak. Once all of that is finished I go to Spokane May 13 to start my training. Over about 8 weeks they will have me training in the procedure for blood donation. (In class I learned more for clinical venipuncture.)  This is a whole different monster.

I am going to be 30 this year. I know that isn't old but I thought I would have more under my belt by now in way of experience in life. I finally feel like I might be on the right track. I will be doing a job I love that helps others. I have felt for a long time that if I could have a career where I help people, and maybe leave the world a little better each day then I would be truly happy. I am grateful for my time in our family business. They have had a lot of patience with me, but I am so excited to move forward and feel rewarded at the end of each day. That's not to say it's going to be easy or perfect. Then it wouldn't be so fulfilling.

My challenge to anyone who reads this is two things.
1 - If you are eligible take a look at donating blood if you haven't before. If you've had a bad experience from someone who is inexperienced doing the procedure try again.  If you are unable to give blood look into ways you can help your community blood banks. If it is a local organization or a national one it never hurts to ask, and most of them always need volunteers.
2 - Find what fulfills your heart. None of us are immune to feeling underwhelmed with our lives. I'm sure we each have moments were we don't think our real potential is being met. But that's the beauty of this world. We are never to old or young to see what we want to be. I encourage all of you to examine yourself and then find a way to be truly happy. You deserve it. If the way isn't clear, take tiny steps ahead but keep moving forward.

Thank you everyone who has supported me and pushed me and even held me back at times. It's brought me to where I am today and that's a good place to be.
love,
H

Give Me a P!

What does P stand for you may ask? Well....
Prayer, patience, phlebotomy, Personal Progress and post-stress.

The last couple of weeks have been interesting ones. I received a new calling to be an adviser in Young Womens. I was also asked to accept the assignment to be Ward Camp Director again. (Luckily this year is Stake Camp so I don't have AS much to do.) However I have to get a lot done before Stake Camp and I only have about 8 weeks to do it in. That's a little crazy. I know it will all come together but it still makes me nervous. I was camp director once before and although I loved it I hoped to never have to do it again....lol
I got cleared to donate blood again! Yay!
That may seem like a weird thing to get excited for but I feel good when I donate. Plus I gotta say (and maybe this is sick and wrong) but I miss being around the venipuncture procedure. It's not as though I'm some psycho (huh that also starts with a P though...) that enjoys getting stabbed with a needle. I have no obsession with vampires, I just feel like a good person when I do it.  After we went to Mexico I found out that I had to wait a year to be eligable because we were in a malaria zone. Bummer. But I was cleared and was just waiting until I had time to dedicate to the blood bank.
I got off work earlier than usual one day and was running errands to the bank and what not. Well in my head I heard, "you should go donate blood."
At times like this you can think of things two different ways. One as though a mosquito was buzzing in your ear and you want to shoo it off, or two as a prompting. I suppose someone may also justify that it was just a thought I had in the back of my head that carried over to the surface but lets forget that option for a moment shall we? My reaction was to swat at the mosquito thought. I literally shook my head and said, "no, not today. I just don't feel like it." Then very clearly in my head I thought/felt/heard whatever, "no you NEED to go donate blood today." Then images of me being 16 and ignoring a prompting popped into my head and images of the car accident that resulted. UGH! I thought. FINE!
So I went to the blood bank on a prompting/whim. I'm not sure why I didn't want to go initially  Like I said I enjoy donating blood. It gives me a sense of purpose. I enjoy being around professional phlebotomists, it keeps my hopes of one day working in that atmosphere alive. I enjoy the Inland Northwest Blood Center because they always have wonderful treats afterwards and they are genuinely nice people and it's what got me interested in phlebotomy in the first place.
I grabbed a quick bite and went to the donation center. Almost the moment I walked in and confirmed I was there to donate, one of the main phlebotomists Maria looked and me and went  "OH! Great now I know your name. Jose and I were trying to think of it. We have some job openings that are coming up and we think you should apply unless you are already at the path lab or something?"
Hmmmmmmm..... maybe I avoided the car wreck this time?.......
I mailed in a lengthy applications and all the extra paper info I thought they may need the next day. Early this week I had a phone interview and Wednesday an in person interview that took nearly 2 hours with a three person panel asking me questions, as well as me doing a written Q&A.
I don't know if I will get this job. I don't even exactly know if that's the reason I felt prompted to go in there that day. But I do know that if I hadn't followed that prompting I probably wouldn't have had such a good opportunity otherwise. Or maybe someone just really needed my nice O- blood.
But this interview at the very least has excited me. I did really well in my interview. Does that mean I'm a shoe in? No. They can always hire someone with more experience or better qualifications. But it renewed a sense of capability I had been lacking for a while. I've had a few job interviews for phlebotomy since I finished school. I've had some exciting prospects. And each time I was left feeling deflated and discouraged. The difference in this interview was I left feeling challenged and excited. Maybe if not this time than another time? I'm more hopeful than I've been in a long time.

Through this process of receiving a new calling, new assignment, and the hope of my new career I've had to greatly rely upon prayer. I've lost count of the silent and vocal pleas I have shared with my Father in Heaven. I've sought council with Him, my husband, and my family to de-stress and overcome what felt like very overwhelming things going on in my life.

Another thing that has helped me focus on a bigger picture is the fact I am able to work on Personal Progress again as I am in Young Womens once more. I didn't have the inclination or drive as a youth to complete it. The program has changed so very much from that time though and I am encouraged and happy that I may complete it. I hate leaving things unfinished. It kind of drives me nuts. Even if those things don't really seem like a bit deal.

I'm working on the patience and post stress. I'm learning to delegate and take time to breathe. The experiences of the last couple weeks have taught me that it doesn't do any good to not get sleep over these things. It wont fix the problem, nor will it simplify it. It will only make you have a raging headache in the morning on TOP of trying to come up with a solution. I may be finally learning to place things in the Lords hands. I have to do my part of course and not procrastinate. But He certainly will help me shoulder any burden that is placed before me.

In other news this month....
I LOVED General Conference!
Izzy is now a year old and so very precious to us. (I haven't had time for pictures.) :(
Casey has confirmed he is double majoring and then plans on a masters degree.
 So that it in our lives!!!!
Love,
Heather

Update

Hey all,

I meant to write a post yesterday but meh, I got lazy and well here you are!

Happy Late Easter!

Nothing to exciting going on with us. We are just working and that's about it. Casey has his spring break this week but the only change we will really have is he will be at work all week instead of work and classes. 

Easter was nice. We had a great day at church and then had a fun dinner with family. Then we watched my nieces and nephew hunt for eggs and their baskets.

I had ever intention of making "resurrection rolls" but alas after some of the fun died down so did our energy. The kids were ready for naps and so were the adults.

We managed to take one picture of the two of us to prove we existed on 03-31-13 lol but it wasn't very good. 

I've started to eliminate foods from my diet based on my docs findings on endometriosis.  I've looked online as well and hmmm, how long have I been in the dark? It's quite a change from what I'm used to. You have to eliminate:

Soy

Wheat

Gluten

Dairy

Processed Sugar

Red Meat

Caffeine

Chocolate

...

But the good news is veggies, fruits, and lean protein are a go. If anything I will lose weight lol. They are finding more links between endo and inflammatory diseases, so this anti- inflammatory diet is supposed to reduce pain and symptoms. For some women it has even helped them get off of medication and increased fertility but I will be honest I still have low hope of that occurring. I am just tired of pain. 

Casey has been really helpful with all this. One way I'm able to do really decently is every ten days I give myself a day off so so speak. Not to gorge or binge on foods that aren't good, but say we want to have pizza or pasta or something on my bad list, I can have it them. At the end of April I will go to every 15 days, then by June I will be at once a month. In my reading it said if I follow these guidelines even 85% of the time I am bound to feel better.

It also got me thinking about the word of wisdom. Really there isn't much difference.  That is the biggest thing for me to remember. My body is a temple, I need good things to go into it in order for it to function as it should. 

None of this is new to me of course, but I've felt pretty rotten the last couple of months so I felt truly ready to make a significant change. Maybe it's the fact my 30th Birthday just in site this year. It's only going to get harder as I get older to be better to myself.

So that's my update. Kind of boring sorry. 

Love to all!

H

Blitzen's 3rd Birthday!

It's hard to believe that this Saturday Blitzen will be 3 Years old!!!! What a wonderful blessing this boy has been to our lives. He is such a great kitty. He is affectionate. He takes his role as alpha very seriously and checks our home each night and is the last one to go to sleep. He is the most mellow of all our kitties and the most stoic. He is always quick with a purr and is great at setting a good example for his younger siblings.
It's adorable when he plays because there is really only one toy that gets this fella to act like a little kitten again. His poof. It's a little ball of fluff he carries around in his mouth while rolling on the floor and letting his dignity slide a bit.

 In honor of his 3rd Birthday I felt some new pictures would be good. So here is my full grown pocket panther looking handsome as always!

His favorite spot in the house is in the kitchen
warming himself in the sunshine on his mat.

This what a smiling kitten looks like.
Eyes closed, completely happy. 

Alright Mama, one strait on picture. This is my best side don't you think?
Now please  let me stare off into space in peace.

He was very patient with me during these pictures. He usually tucks his head away and acts all shy. But he was into the moment I think and felt it was okay to be the center of attention. 

Happy Birthday Blitzen Boy!!!!

Purging the Past with Fire

With each new year I make some form of resolution that I inevitably don't keep. Sound familiar???? I know I'm not the only one. In fact Casey pointed out that he didn't even want to try to make a resolution just for that fact alone. 

So instead we came up with a motto for 2013. 

TAKE BETTER CARE

It's a blanket statement, but a helpful one. Whether it is our finances, our health, or spiritual growth we can pause and say lets Take Better Care and from there regain our priorities. We both have the tendency to live in the moment and that isn't always the wisest or healthiest course of action.

We went to visit my family a little while back and my parents urged/begged me to clear some of my clutter out of their shed. So being the obedient child I am I did just that....And also somehow ended up with a lot of my brothers treasured crap as well. lol Anything of value will be returned to him someday. In part of my TBC motto I have been attempting to "gut" my house if you will of unnecessary things. I wouldn't part with anything of value either monetary or sentimentally, but it just feel good to purge things that are just piling up for no reason.  While going through boxes I found two that had so many pictures, letters, and cards that I literally went through each one to determine what I cared to save and what was really just trash. It may sound callous to anyone who comes from my family of "near hoarders" but I don't see the reason to hang on to EVERY LITTLE WRITTEN NOTE OR IMAGE!!!!

I did make a nice little pile of letters and pictures that I know I can't part with. They are almost a journal of some events in my life. Like certain letters from when I was in basic training. There is such an outpouring of love and strength within them I can't part with them. I'm not sure what to do with them yet, but I know I will continue to treasure them.

Just a few of the loving wishes sent to support and push me forward.

I did find however there were other letters and cards and pictures that were just to painful for me to recount. They brought up memories I'm not likely to ever forget so there was no reason to hang on to them. Honestly the memories bring up more poison in my heart than a learned lesson. I read somewhere about writing down all your mistakes and burning them and walking away with a lifted burden from your heart. I thought to myself as I looked at pictures of my first wedding to Corey, or letters I received while in the hospital because I attempted suicide, cards from family members telling me maybe someday my father would speak to me again I just needed to be patient and know how much my actions disappointing my family, and all I felt was pain. I have learned from some of the mistakes/pain I have suffered by my own action as well as others. Through repentance and the Atonement I can honestly say I know the Lord loves me regardless of my past. And yet when I think on those times, and as I saw evidence of their existence all I could think was how it still had a hold on me. Over 10 years later and my actions still cause me to grieve. So I thought, alright Heather, time to move forward. Time to let go. So I burned them.

Every letter, picture, document, card, tangible memory of my past that haunts my heart. 

I know that by this action I'm not fully free of those memories. But it's one step closer to being further away. Does that make sense? I will always struggle with my faults. It's part of my nature. And as my amazing husband points out so often I am harder on myself then anyone he has ever met. But I felt a sense of satisfaction watching those items burn. I wish I could purge like that everything that feels unpleasant, but that's a little psychotic even for me. lol 

After the flames died down I poured some planting soil over top and stirred it. I think finished with bit of water and added plant food. I hope to plant some pretty flowers that will help me remember my efforts today, dramatic as they may be.

A place where something beautiful can grow out of painful memories.

It has been a glorious day to do this. I'm happy I did this. I'm grateful for the amazingly simple and happy things of my past that help me to focus. Once I was done literally the sun came out from behind the cloud it was hiding behind and warmed my face. It was kind of a perfect moment. I'm happy to be able to save this memory here.

A perfect end to the purging process.

As all of us move forward in this year I hope that we each Take Better Care; of our families, friendships, health, spirit, mind, finances, homes, children, lives, whatever needs it. 

 I have regrets. I don't know a person who doesn't on some level. I won't forget my mistakes, it would be wrong to not acknowledge them because they have brought me to where I am today. But they don't have to be painful either. I desire to move forward in my life and recognize those things ahead of me. I think that is a better way to Take Better Care of myself at this time. 

Love,

H

 Your past is not your potential. In any hour you can choose to liberate the future.   Ferguson, Marilyn

Merry Christmas From the Blamires Duo

This is the first year since Casey and I have been together, (and come to think of it since I was about 18) that I haven't sent a single Christmas Card to anyone. I mean, I haven't even sent one to my parents... Wow that makes me feel terrible. My reasons are not Scrooge or Grinch related (although plenty of that has gone around this season) but rather I had no time or energy. Seriously. That's it. And by the time I had time or energy it dawned on me that it's Christmas Eve. Yikes! 

So I guess this is my Christmas Card this year. 

Casey and Heather have had an exciting year. It was filled with a lot of firsts.

Heather got her first stamp on her passport. She hopes to have many more in future years. It was an exciting moment for her. 

We welcomed both a new nephew in January, and a darling new niece in November. Wow! that makes 5 on Casey's side and 3 on Heather's! We love being Uncle Casey and Aunt Heather!!!! 

Heather went whitewater rafting for the first time and fell out of the boat. 

It's hilarious now......See older posts for details. 

Casey tried sushi for the first time and LOVED it.

Both attended school this fall. 

Once again Casey did very well in all his classes. We don't have the final grades yet but he was pretty confident that things went really well. He also really enjoyed tutoring in the Spanish lab. It helps not only the other students but him to continually practice and keep up that second language. He is sort of toying with the idea of a teaching degree because he loves helping people learn a language he loves so much. But first he says he has to survive the degree he is pursuing at this time.  

Heather completed her phlebotomy course and is now a certified phlebotomist. No job prospects yet which makes her nervous but patience and prayer will no doubt help. She loved what she learned and working in her clinical settings. She is toying with the idea of continuing on in the medical path and completing the EMT Basic course. Right now however she is just grateful to be done with this class. It was kind of intense for her. 

                                   

Our furry family members are doing great as well!

Blitzen

Our oldest boy is doing great. His teeth haven't been bothering him very much which is wonderful. We can't believe in  February he will be 3! He is still the Alpha cat and loves to take care of his younger siblings and takes his job of keeping watch over the house very seriously.  He has such wise eyes and he is always there to make us feel better. 

Cuzco

Our sweet boy is just that, SWEET. He is always ready for a cuddle or a belly rub. He still tends to get into mischief but that is his personality and we wouldn't want him any different. He has been having problems with his ears the last couple months and we hope that that can get cleared up soon. Medicine hasn't helped. We think he may have some allergies, poor fella.  But even when he isn't feeling well he has such a loving demeanor. 

Izabel

Our youngest kitty is almost 9 months! She is still very much a kitten too.  Her favorite things to play with are boxes and bags. Right now she is in sort of her "tween" stage which means she is establishing her independence and doesn't want to be held very long. She loves chasing her older siblings and thinks the Christmas tree is the most fascinating thing ever. She's still very small and will probably always be because of her hard start at life but she is very spunky. 

Hazelnut

Our newest and most mysterious kitty is adjusting well. She purrs more and is getting more comfortable at being held. She even snuggles every once and a while. She and Blitzen still are bumping heads over who will be top cat at times. But she is learning to play more and more with Cuzco and Izzy. She still misses the outside at times but also seems to really enjoy the warm and cozy comforts of being an indoor cat. 

This year has had a lot of ups and downs and we as a couple have really had to rely on each other for strength and sanity. But looking back we can see all the many blessings we have enjoyed. We know for sure the love of the Lord and the love of our families. We are grateful for those joys that have come into our lives. They greatly outweigh the sorrows. That is our hope for all of you as well.

Have a Wonderfully Merry Christmas and a Very Blessed New Year!!!!

The Gift of Love. The Gift of Peace. The Gift of Happiness.

May all of these be yours this Christmas. 

Love,

The Blamires Duo

YIKES!!! And other adventures....

Once upon a time there were two individuals with big goals of work, school, callings, and having time to do things like go to the movies or complete a Pinterest craft.... Alas these two people live in reality and so as time wore on in the months of October - December some things gave way. Such as having time to go to the movies or complete a Pinterest craft... or heck, updating a blog! 

So yes, as you may be able to tell Casey and I have been crazy busy. I understand EVERYONE is crazy busy but OY! this has been nuts! 

Hmmm... Where to start? Alright with Casey:

Casey is halfway through his junior year of college. Sadly he will probably be a super senior because of the way classes get planned out but at any rate this has been his busiest and most demanding semester thus far. Not only is he doing higher level courses for his major but he is Spanish tutor. He has also been approached about being a tutor in the Math lab as well as the Computer lab. He might if he had time because the scholarships attached would be wonderful but on top of school he is also working full time. I'm sure he can't wait until the end of next week when he takes his last final and can breath a little more.

Work is good. Christmas time is Artbeat's craziest time of year. We get more sales than even the summer months in a shorter amount of time. Artbeat has also opened a sister store up in Moscow, Idaho. So Casey, the manger. and the owner all alternate who commutes up the hill to run the store. It can make for really long days for him. His job is titled as a sales rep but more and more he is doing artwork for the customers and that can be very time consuming. He is also in charge of the web development of the store and in the near future Artbeat hopes to expand into selling web templates which Casey would be in charge of also. Phew *wipes brow* um, what else?

Oh calling: Casey's church calling is going great. He's the Sunday School President and he loves it. The only time it's really stressful is if one of his teachers doesn't show up without telling him. But he and his counselors seem to have a good grip on things if that happens. 

That has pretty much been his world the last few months. School, work, calling, rinse repeat. 

The same goes for me. I decided not to stop working while doing my clinicals so my time has been running around between work, school/clinicals, and calling. Happily as a Sunday School Teacher I don't have a demanding calling. I prepare to teach for an hour a week, and I teach the 16-18 year olds so that's awesome. 

I have two more classes. One a practicum class where we will wrap up the last of our pokes. I have 5 finger pokes left. Any volunteers? And the last one is our test to certify as phlebotomists. I am also down to only needing 20 hours left in my clinical work. So far I've worked in three different facilities. 2 hospitals and a medical center. I enjoy it but clinical phlebotomy isn't where my heart is at. I really wish I could work more in the donation phlebotomy department. Both give great experience but they are also very different ball games. Today I had my first near fainter... Interesting experience. But all was well. Poor fella. 

Work is okay. Although I'm not working the hours Casey is I try to get a lot done while I'm there because I don't have much cushion as far as due dates go. It will be much easier when I am working more full time and not splitting my time up between my day job and my clinical work! 

I had an interview this week at one of the hospitals. It didn't go as well as I thought it would. It was one of those situations though were you think, "maybe this isn't a good fit, it doesn't feel like one." So who knows what will happen. I have other applications out there but jobs are a bit limited because the valley has so many phlebotomist student and pros already. I am excited that in January I will start my volunteer work at the blood bank. My hope is that by working there in any capacity they will think of me as soon as an opening comes up. There is in fact an opening right now on their web site but sadly it's in Spokane. Casey and I are willing to relocate to an extent but it has to work for both our jobs not just one or the other. 

In family news we have a new addition. I know I know we sound like creepy cat people but it was not our intention to make her a member or our family. 

This kitty used to live next door to my in-laws house and this summer she had kittens. She and her babies liked to hang out under the side porch at Todd and Linda's because it was quite and fenced in so no dogs or other mean critters could get to her. Her owners next door weren't really interested in finding the kittens homes (more to follow on that) so as a family we took it upon ourselves to find good homes for the babies. Todd and Linda then asked their neighbor if they fixed the kitty yet and she told them she had. (That was the first of many shady lies.) The neighbor was so not interested in her "pet" or the consequences of not fixing her that she decided she would just stop feeding the cat and her kittens in hopes they would go away. Todd found not one but two nearly dead kittens on his lawn because of dehydration on malnutrition. The mama cat was skin and bones because even though her kittens were mostly weaned she was still feeding them what she could through nursing because they needed food. So it was depleting her.  So very sad. Well my in-laws have never loved cats really. They like them more because Casey and I have cats but they are not "cat folk." you know? Well they went and got food for the mama and babies and went to work caring for them as best they could. After each of the babies found homes they continued to feed the mama cat (whom they nicknamed Nelli) because the neighbor had abandoned responsibility. There was discussion of surrendering the cat to the animal shelter but they were to full. There's also a rescue group in town for animals but they too were booked full in their foster homes so Todd and Linda decided Nellie was just fine where she was.

Then the weather took a nasty turn. It was a weekend when the temp got down to 25 or so and poor Nellie was just huddled  in a blanket Linda had laid out for her. They tried bringing her inside and things would have been okay but one dog of their three was NOT having a cat in his house. So they asked us if we could foster her until they found a new home. They didn't want her to freeze out there until they found a place. We agreed but we needed to take her to the vet to make sure she was fixed and had her shots. Coincidentally the day I went over to get the then called Nelli the neighbor happened to be home. I stopped her and asked what her plans for her cat was. She didn't have any. She was moving in a hurry and couldn't take care of the cat anymore. She said she never really liked her anyway. She also needed to find a place for her mangy dog too. (her words not mine but yes that poor beast was mangy and shy and in a bad way) So I said I was going to take care of her cat and I would find a new home for her. And by the way what was the cats name. "Hiccup" is what her son had called the cat. Hmph. Okay whatever.

So we took "Nelli/Hiccup/MamaCat" to the vet. Nope the neighbor never fixed her, shocker, and nope she has no vaccines, shocker, and yep her ears were bad and she was very underweight....shocker. Some people deserve a high five.... to the face.... with a chair. Anyway we got her home after her little surgery. Introductions were going well with our three kitties. She was being cared for and warm for the first time probably EVER. (the vet figured she was pretty young because of her teeth...about Cuzco's age.) 

We had an ad on craigslist and petfinder. We had a potential person who maybe might consider taking her in possibly it just depended. (sounds really reliable right? lol) Then one fateful day Casey was sitting in the office and doing some work when "Nelli/Hiccup/MamaCat" decided his lap looked nice. She snuggled down and feel asleep and started to purr. She hadn't really purred up to that point. On occasion she would be not much. Anyway he later told me, she woke up and looked at him and he was done. He didn't want anyone else to take care of her because she was finally happy. 

So this poor little soul has joined our home and hearth. She is getting along with the other kitties better and better each day. There is a bit of a power struggle between her and Blitzen because they are both used to being alphas. But anyway she is ours. 

We would like to introduce you to:

HAZELNUT

Now don't be fooled, she does look at LOT like Cuzco but she is a totally different cat. Who knows maybe she is his long lost sister. They are the same age and look a lot alike. lol 

So we now have two adorable black kitties or our "Pocket Panthers" and two grey stripped kitties that might be considered "Nondescript Mini Jungle Cats" 

The End. 

Now your are ALLLLLL caught up! 

Sorry it was so long,

Big love,

H

I Vant Tu Suck Ur Blooooood....

With a sterile needle, gloves, gown, and all necessary precautions to ensure your safety as well as my own. LOL
Ah, a little phlebotomy humor there for ya! But kind of perfect as it is nearly Halloween.

Sorry it's been so long since I posted. (I should really just call the maybe two people who read this thing rather than act as though an audience of devout readers has been hanging on by a thread after my white water rafting cliffhanger. Did she ever start school!?! How is work going!?! Oh my goodness, what's new with her CATS!?!) Seriously my life is THAT boring.

In answer to those questions, yes both Casey and I started school. And so far it's been quite the ride. Casey bounces between work, school, and the new extended branch location in Moscow. I bounce between work and school but not as crazily. But don't get me wrong, it's been intense. In fact I still don't know if I'm going to be able to hack it. I've had two technically successful draws on the arm. Which means I have taken blood properly from two different  victims er, STUDENTS in my class. I have also done a skin puncture where you take blood from the finger, and may I just say... No matter how scared you are of needles, use that option over a finger poke any time you can. It's faster, a lot less painless, and a lot lot lot less aggravating for your phlebotomist. You practically have to milk the dang finger of blood to even barely enough for tests. Which kind of hurts more than you think, and then you have a sightly higher risk of the blood cells getting damaged so you would have to get the tests over again. It's so much better to just take the needle. Trust me. It's awful,  but trust me.
I really do love my class though. My teacher.... not so fond of. She's a great example of someone who is brilliant at something but REALLY sucks at teaching that subject. (reminds me of one of the high school chemistry teachers I knew growing up.) I really hope to start clinicals soon. That's where we will go out in the field and get job shadow experiences as well as learn about different places we can work. We will also get most of our draws and pokes in the field to be certified. She wanted us to start them at the beginning of October but as she put it "I'm not comfortable with where you're at skill wise and confidence wise. It looks bad on me." Well hmph. At least I wasn't singled out. I'd say most of us are in that boat. I'm just nervous because you have to have so many draws, pokes, clinical hours, and class time hours to get certified on TOP of the final test you take to pass. Yikes! I really want to succeed and after my latest draw I feel better on my ability to do this but it's going to be tough.
My big hope is to work at a blood bank when I'm finished. That is where my passion is. Some people are fascinated by the path lab or things like that but I want to draw blood and know that it's saving someones life. It's the same reason why I donate blood myself. I know that pathology is very important but most of those people are ordered by their doctors to come in and find out what's wrong. A blood bank is someone who is volunteering their time, energy, and literal life juice (that sounds a little gross but I couldn't think of what else to call it...lol) for another human being. I think it's noble and kind, and I'd love to be a part of that officially. I also want to do it because I've met people who have had one bad experience with donating and they never did again. My poor brother had that experience. I talked him into going with me once and that girl butchered his arm. I'd love to be able to have someone like him and show them it can be an almost pain free process and that it's so worth it.

Work is okay. Frustrating at times like any job is but not to bad. My favorite days are Thursday and Friday because I actually get to see my husband for more than just a passing glance in a day. Things are rapidly picking up for our family business and it's both a wonderful blessing and a terrible stressor for us all.

Cats are fine. Izzy just had a fun little surgery. No babies for that baby! She was kind of miserable for a few days but now she's over it. Running everywhere and torturing her brothers.

Life has been pretty good. I wish I had more time in the day but I'm not sure what I would do with it if it was there. Probably get on Pinterest. lol (That site is amazing, so many wonderful things I learn, so much time I kill.) But that is pretty much it for me. Hopefully I'll have some fun posts from Halloween. Not sure what I'm dressing up as.... would a vampire be really cliche right now? lol
love,
H

Water Water Everywhere

WARNING: THIS MAY BE A LONNNNNG POST
I realize it's been quite a while since I posted. For a quick update; Casey started school last week. I've been training to work in a different part of the business, I have crossed several more things off my 101 list (even if nearly killed me!), and I swim with team old.

Some of those things are pretty self explanatory. I mean school and work are pretty boring at this point. I start my phlebotomy course on Wednesday the 5 so that's exciting but really right now there isn't much to talk about. Casey will be so busy this semester he will just have to introduce himself to me come January I think. But anyway, I have a couple of fun water stories that I just wish I had visual aids for. :( I will do my best anyway.

I have a strange fear not of water but what is IN the water below me that I cannot see. So when our company had a white water rafting trip in August I thought, that is terrifying! Rocks, creatures, who knows what are in the river! But my husband convinced me to go and maybe face my fear a little bit. I said sure but as long as I stayed IN the raft. No swimming for me thank you very much. I will save that fun for the pool. (That story is for another post.) Well we go and the guide is this fun guy who I make aware of my fear early on. He was very kind about it and said not to worry he would take good care of me, and that he hadn't lost anyone out of his boat yet................................ Famous last words. Duh nu nuuuuuuu!


Okay, NO this wasn't our raft. I don't even know who these people are, I found the image on the internet. lol
And this didn't happen to our group.

So the front of the raft (for those who have never had the opportunity to enjoy this type of outing) is called "the bull." On some trips while your are going through a rapid a daring individual can "ride the bull" which means to sit on it and hold tight to a rope and brave the crashing water in front of you. Sounds like a jolly good time right? Well I seemed to think, ya know, I AM going to face my fear of falling in the river and by gum, I'm going to rock "riding the bull!" At this point in the story you may think to yourself, now Heather....you're stupid. And that's okay. I am.

I looked at our guide and asked what are the odds I fly off? He laughed and said, "hold on tight, I'll do the rest!" So heartened by the cheers and pride of my group I went and sat on the bull. I wrapped myself tight on the rope and waited, doing my best to not chicken out. The rapid we were going through is called Time Zone and it's a class 3. There are 5 classes of rapids I think and you have to be a pro to go on a 5. The highest we went on in this trip was a 4. As we approached the rapid I was ready and yelled wahoo even, and BAM the water crashed over me. But I stayed on the boat. I was so excited I thought, "MAN I CAN DO THIS!" I even did a fist pump in the air then went back to my tight grip. Then we did a bumpy bump thing over some smaller parts and a big one was coming up. All of the sudden my tight grip didn't even seem to matter. The wave hit me full force on my right side and all I knew was I was flying through the air into the scary water with rocks, and creatures, and who knows what in it! I heard my brother in law Perry yelling, "POINT YOUR FEET DOWN RIVER AND KEEP YOUR HEAD UP!", and I did my best. My natural instinct was to fight to swim. Water was crashing over me everywhere. I was terrified honestly. I didn't know where the rocks were, I couldn't catch my breath because every time I opened my mouth to get air, water covered me again. I was praying in my heart so hard that I would make it out without any injuries. It couldn't have lasted more than a minute but it felt like forever. Finally I was beyond the rapid and just floating. I made the mistake of looking around me and I could tell I was in a very deep part of the river and I couldn't see very far down. But I was to exhausted to panic. The raft pulled up by me and they pulled me in with one tug. (That made me feel good actually because that means I'm not to heavy to save lol) After catching my breath and resting for a moment the guide asked if I was okay. I made eye contact with Casey briefly and I could tell he knew I was about to burst into panicked tears, so I pulled myself up and said, "Yep, but I think I swallowed a fish!" Everyone laughed and let out a puff of air in relief. Afterwards Casey patted my leg and asked quietly if I was really okay, and I assured him I would be, I just needed some time. The guide appologized over and over. It seems that we were on course just fine and I would have stayed on the bull with no problem but suddenly his hat was flying off. In the split second it took for him to grab his hat and toss it down to where it wouldn't land in the water our raft turned sideways. When you go through rapids you have to hit them head on or people can fly off or the raft can get tipped over. So THAT'S why I had my little swimming moment! It wasn't my fault! Although I am naturally uncoordinated and very clumsy I wouldn't have stayed on just fine. Ack!
But the story doesn't end here...... A little ways down the river after a few more class 3 rapids the guide asked if I would like to try to ride the bull again. I looked at him like a cow looks at an oncoming train... HUH?! He told me, "I have the perfect rapid for you. It's mellow. Only a class 2. I don't even wear my hat this time so you don't have to worry about flying off." I was reluctant if you can imagine..... But then he said something else. "Heather, have you ever ridden a horse?" Well yeah. "Have you ever been thrown off?" Dang that was a good line! (Although when I think about it now, getting thrown off a horse at the fair grounds is VERY much different than in the middle of a white rapid!) He then told me that he didn't want my rafting experience to be marred by a mishap. He wanted me to try to "get back on the horse" so to speak. But only if I wanted to.... So I did. I rode the bull a second time and although that water threw me into the raft I held on for dear life and made it through still in the boat. By golly I did!

I still have mixed thoughts and emotions about going again. On the one hand it was very fun but on the other it was terrifying. I had nightmares for quite a few nights afterwards. But who knows? Maybe. I don't always make good choices. lol
Love,
Heather
P.S. if you are interested in seeing my adventure first hand go to this website:
www.salmonriverphotos.com
click on rafting the salmon river 2012 and scroll down until you see Idaho Guide Service. Then click on the date Aug 17 and there is a visual account of my adventure.And don't feel bad if you laugh.... It's kind of hysterical.

Hot Hot Summer

So our weather here has been kookoo bananas. Insanely hot. Where we work though it gets even worse. I stand in a spot that is between a flash, (a machine that sort of cures the ink on a shirt so you can put MORE ink on it,) that is about 350 degrees, and a dryer, (the final machine that cures the ink on a shirt) that is about 400 degrees. So when the weather is 100+ degrees outside and there is not much ventilation in the shop, lets just say it is almost unbearable. Water is amazing to drink by the way but usually after work I need an icy shower!
There is a bright side to this however, because it is so hot I don't have much of an apatite until much later in the day. And THEN I get to enjoy amazing things like this:


Oh the joy and justification!!!! Gotta love summer! I read somewhere that "you can't buy happiness but you CAN buy ice cream, and that's sort of the same thing." Oh yeah, that is my new mantra in life! lol

Day Zero: 101 in 1001 Days Challenge

So I've had a few friends do this challenge. I've just never worked up the nerve to sit down and think of 101 things I plan to do. It seemed daunting. Well guess what happens when you're home sick? lol So here is my list of 101 in 1001 days:
The Challenge:
Complete 101 present tasks in a period of 1001 days
The Criteria:
Tasks must be specific (ie.no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on your part.)
Why 1001 days?
Many people have created lists in the past- frequently simple challenges such as New Year's resolutions or a "Bucket List." The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organizing and timing some tasks such as trips, school semesters, or outdoor activities.

So here is my list in no specific order. Other people list them into subcategories but I'm a bit lazy today. Oh and if they are crossed out that means that I have completed them! :)

1. Complete C25K.
2. Wear a bathing suit in public with confidence.
3. Donate clothing that no longer fits me (or I don't wear) to goodwill.
4. Get certified as a Phelbotomist.
5. Finish adoption paperwork and get in the system.
6. Lose 55 pounds.
7. Make 15 crafts off of Pinterest. (7/15)
8. Finish reading Jesus the Christ.
9. Learn to play Beethoven's Sonata no 8 in C minor on the piano.
10. Read the entire set of Scriptures
11. Run a 5K in less than 40 minutes. (my last time was like 43 or something)
12. No fast food for a month.
13. Get a massage.
14. Don't complain about anything for a week.
15. Complete a coloring book. (This may seem juvenile but I've NEVER done it! lol)
16. Take a photography class.
17. Write a letter to myself to be opened when the 1001 days are over.
18. Take a photo of the same place every month for year and then turn it into a calendar for the next year.
19. Turn some of my photography into art for our home.
20. Go stargazing with a telescope.
21. Stop drinking soda for a month.
22. Get CPR certified again.
23. Go on a date with Casey once a month for 6 months.
24. Make a list of 100 things I like about myself and stick it to my mirror.
25. Have dinner by candlelight.
26. Create a budget and stick to it!
27. Improve my Spanish.
28. Attend the Temple once every 2 months at least!
29. Blog once a month.
30. Start and finish my Pursuit of Excellence for Relief Society.
31. Donate to the food bank for 2 different holidays.
32. Finish unpacking and make our apartment a real home.
33. Go to "Movies on the Wall" here in Lewiston.
34. Attend the Lional Hampton Jazz festival with Casey.
35. Go to Silverwood theme park.
36. Volunteer to play the piano in Relief Society some Sunday if needed.
37. Audition and participate in a play by the Civic Theater.
38. Bake someone a cake for no reason.
39. Complete a 365 day photo challenge.
40. Donate blood. (Can't until march 2013 because of Mexico but it will happen!)
41. Fly a kite. (I haven't in forever! And it's always so windy here!)
42. Encourage someone to do the 101 things in 1001 days project.
43. Make a list of 30 recipes I want to cook and cook them.
44. Become a bone marrow donor.
45. Don't eat sweets for a month.
46. Get my cello tuned.
47. Read the Declaration of Independence by the 4th of July 2012.
48. Watch an entire General Conference both days.
49. Go to the planetarium.
50. Learn how to use all the functions on my camera.
51. Make a wish on 12/12/12 at 12:12.
52. Build a gingerbread house.
53. Make homemade salsa.
54. Buy something for food storage once a month for 18 months.
55. Move childhood belongings out of my parents house.
56. Sleep in a Cabin.
57. Re-read all the Harry Potter books.(2/7)
58. Organize loose photos in the photo bin.
59. Get rid of our sock box and just buy new socks!
60. Drink between 4 and 6 bottles of water daily for a month.
61. Do 5 random acts of kindness.
62. Go on a hike.
63. Get couples portraits.
64. Walk to and from work everyday for a month.
65. Go on a picnic with Casey.
66. Go whitewater rafting.
67. Be technology free for a day.
68. Crochet a blanket with granny squares.
69. Donate needed items to the local Animal Shelter 2 times a year.
70. Send a card to my MaMah once a month.(1/30)
71. Refinish a piece of furniture.
72. Touch the floor w/ flat hands.
73. Do a 12 days of Christmas for someone with a nativity in secret.
74. Read 5 books recommended by friends.
75. Find a drive-in and see a movie there.
76. Take a cake decorating course.
77. Learn how to use Photoshop.
78. Make a list of my 50 most favorite quotes.
79. Watch 26 movies, each starting with a different letter of the alphabet. (6/26)
80. Learn how to say "I love you" in 10 languages.
81. Host a party for no reason.
82. Have a sleepover party with my niece.
83. Read The Hobbit before I see the movie.
84. Stop drinking soda for a year!
85. Get life insurance.
86. Complete Personal Progress.
87. Take a great portrait of all our kitties together.
88. Make homemade cinnamon rolls.
89. Make a cherry pie for Casey.
90. Do portraits for 3 non family clients.
91. Get a recycling bin for plastic bottles.
92. Use a menu board (made from Pinterest) every week and stick to it for 2 months.
93. Compile a book of favorite recipes.
94. Eat dessert first at a restaurant.
95. Visit family in Wyoming sometime other than Christmas.
96. Buy a bountiful basket and share it with loved ones.
97. Do dishes every night for 2 months until it is habit.
98. Get bikes for hubby and me.
99. Have Casey teach me computer care so I don't have to always ask him what's wrong with my laptop.
100. Make a birthday calendar.
101. Create another 101 list when all these are finished!

Oh and if you would like to create your own list you can go to: www.dayzeroproject.com
This website can help you keep track of your progress, and gives ideas if you get stuck.

So here's to 1001 days and completing my goals. Some may seem a little to easy but a lot of them are things that I've intended to do for...well forever! Like making a pie for Casey, it just hasn't happened and I know he would love one! I'm excited about this and I will try to post when I've completed something and cross those off this list, so if anyone out there is curious as to my progress they can know....All three people that read my blog! lol Big love to you all, wish me luck!