Life....where does it go?

I have decided that as I get older that the time goes by so much faster. I seriously am still trying to grasp the fact that it is 2011 and not 2010....plus that April is only 2 days away. I also can't believe that I have a year and a half until I finish my classes and start my student teaching. I NEVER in a million years thought that I would be able to say that I am...One, finishing my college degree...Two, I see the light at the end of the tunnel at Eastover. This past November I hit my 10 year anniversary with Carolinas Medical Center- Eastover University OB/GYN. 10 YEARS! WOW! That is a decade! CRAZY! I am so excited to be able to move forward in my life with a new career. But how I will miss my peeps at Eastover (and don't worry my Eastover Family...you still have another year and half to deal with me ;o) ). I just never thought I would ever leave. I guess that is because it has taken me FOREVER (please picture in your mind the Sandlot when saying "FOREVER", because that is how it should always be said) to figure out what I want to do with my life.

School is wonderful! I am loving it! (Another thing I NEVER thought I would say). I have started my courses in my major. I have also started observing classes. Observing only makes me more excited to start teaching. One of the classes I have observed is a 3rd grade class at Piedmont Community Charter School in Gastonia, NC. The teacher, Mrs. Rhyne, is wonderful! She is a retired teacher that came back to teaching because she missed it. One of the things that she does in her class that I absolutely love is she plays music through out the day and gives the children an opportunity to get up and dance. What makes it even better is she is up there with them dancing. One of the songs they sing is "Tooty Ta". Those kids were so funny dancing to it! I absolutely love doing silly things with kids and this song is one that brings out the silliness!

I don't think I have said it enough....I LOVE BEING AN AUNT!!!! I am so excited that on September 16th I will get my #17 niece or nephew. Then on September 21st I will get my #18 niece or nephew!! The girls at work just laugh because I come running in and I am bouncing off the walls I am so happy!! They can't believe that I can keep getting so excited for another one. What they don't understand is that each little spirit that comes to our family is just as special as the 1st. They are each so different that it just adds more excitement to life. I love having my niece Lily aske me "spin me around faster, faster, faster" over and over....why? Because it brings joy to her life and mine. I love calling Suzanna's and hearing Eden say "Hi, Aunt Heathur". Or, walking into Jason and Shiloh's house and hearing all the kids say "Hi, Aunt Mess" or "Hi, Aunt Crazy". I love that Ethan is getting to that age that he has to act like having his aunt hug and kiss him is horrible but at the same time loves it! I also love those moments when they just want to snuggle on the couch...just brings warmth to my heart. I'm so happy that families are forever.

Nine Years

This week I have wondered how to forget. Tuesday, October 26, 2010 would have been my 9th wedding anniversary. I have asked friends who have gone through divorces how they have delt with the "anniversary" date. Their answer, they are bad with dates. Sadly, I have been blessed with a great memory for dates, so no luck there. Instead I have decided that I am going to make this day a day of wonderful things to be thankful for.

I am blessed to have such a wonderful and loving family. I have a mother and father that are so caring. Not only are they my parents but they are my best friends. I have 4 brothers (yes, Grant and Chad are my brothers, I don't consider them in-law) that are amazing! They take care of me in their own individually quirky ways. Some of them like to draw on my feet and others like to give me tips on how to pick up bachelors by where "special" clothing. I have 5 sisters that I adore! They are there for me when I need to scream about my bad day, laugh with me when I do something stupid, and get all giddy with me when I am excited about meeting an amazing person. I have 16 nieces and nephews that are angles and are the loves of my life! I wouldn't trade anything in the world to not be their aunt. It is the most amazing calling in my life.

I am blessed with friends that help keep me out of my "love me jacket". Amber Campbell....what can I say. The woman is amazing!!!! I knew the day she told me about the obstacles having to share a bathroom with 2 sisters, that we were going to be best friends. So many tears have been shared with her. Lots of laughs have been heard between us. I would do anything for her. When times were stressful and I needed to let it out, Amber's door was always open, no matter what time of the night. Jared and Amber have spent many late nights helping me understand and work through many things. I love that my Thursday nights are dedicated to Girl's Night with her. Amber is the friend that you can call for help and not worry if she thinks you are crazy. The amount of love I have for her can't be bought, it is priceless. I could add Tyra, Casey, and Julie to the list of friends that are amazing. I am so blessed that I have them in my life. And who could forget Paisley! Working close with her for the past 4 years has been a true blessing. She is a friend that listens and understands. She helps me see things in a different way. I couldn't have made it through the past 4 years without her.

Most of all I am blessed to be a member of The Church of Jesus Chrsit of Latter Day Saints. Without being a member of the LDS church I would not know the full blessings that come from the atonement of my Savior Jesus Christ. I know that Jesus Christ is the only begotten son of my Heavenly Father. I know that He died for not only my sins but for any pains that I have and will go through. I know that through Jesus I am able to return to live with my Father in Heaven. I know that the Book of Mormon is true. I know that as I read it I am able to find answers to my trials. I know that the priesthood authority has been restored to the earth through Joseph Smith. I am so greatful for the men in my life who try to always live a worthy life so that when I am in need of a priesthood blessing they are able to administer it to me. I know that we have a living prophet and apostles on the earth today. Through their words we are able to find peace and comfort. I know that through the blessings of the temple I am able to be with my family for eternity.

I think Mary Fielding Smith can describe my feelings of trials, "...we have been able to rejoice, in the midst of our privations and persecutions, that we were counted worthy to suffer these things, so that we may, with the ancient saints who suffered in like manner, inherit the same glorious rewards."

I have finally done it!

For about 3 years now I have been talking about going back to school. I would like to announce that I have done just that! I started on April 20th with the University of Phoenix. I am going for an online degree in Elementary Education. I should finish my degree in a little less than 3 years.
I am so excited!!!!!!!! After I finish my degree in Elementary Ed I am thinking about going back for a masters in Speach Therapy. But this all depends on where I am at in my life in 3 years.

The last 12 weeks of my schooling I will have to do student teaching. This is exciting because that means that I will be leaving Eastover University OB/GYN. I will be with Eastover 10 years in November! CRAZY!!!!! My manager about had a heart attack when I told her I would have to take 12 weeks for student teaching. She recovered when she found out it would be at least 2 years from now. :o)

Each course is 5 weeks. One week runs from Tuesday to Monday. I feel blessed because my assignments are due by 11:59 Arizona time...which is 3:00 AM my time!!! Just a litte leeway. I have completed one course, which was a course like "Freshman Orentation". It helped us know how to set goals, learn time management, and accomplish our goals.

I am now doing a course called "The Essentials to College Writing". Man is it kicking my tail! In my first week I had to read 4 chapters, 3 journal articles, 8 grammer quizzes, and write a persuassive paper. (Did I mention that this we the week of Memorial Weekend and I was leaving to go out of town Friday-Monday?) This week I have to write a paper on Case Study Analysis. (HUH?) I told Amelia that I have forgotten how to BS my way through papers. Hopefully that gift will come back to me. I used to be so good at it!

I am excited to keep plucking along in my classes. I will update you on my progress.

What have I been up to since Nauvoo....

Ok...once again I am a slacker when it comes to my blog. But...I have finally sat down and updated it. :o)

I have been very busy since my Nauvoo trip. When I left Nauvoo I drove to Cincinnatii where I picked up Amelia, Mom and Dad up from the airport. Amelia was coming home from her mission in Pocatello Idaho. Once I finally got home I hit the ground running because I had a 7 Stake YSA activity to finish putting together. And that is where my life after Nauvoo begins...

August 13-15 was the 7 Stake YSA Activity. It consisted of a lake activity up in Mooresville, NC off of Lake Norman and a fireside with Kenneth Cope. I had invited Kenneth out to Charlotte for this activity. It was such a blast to be able to hang out with him. I have loved listening to his music since...oh goodness...1995. I remember his first CD that I bought was Eden's Garden. I have since then enjoyed the other CD's and have gained a stronger testimony of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Days Saints. On Friday Amelia and I met up with Kenneth, Bishop and Sister Beachum, Brother and Sister Bolinger, President Jackson, and Brandon Pace at the Macaroni Grill. It was so much fun just "chillin" with Kenneth. He is a very funny guy!

Amelia and I had fun taking pictures while waiting for everyone to arrive.

Me, Kenneth Cope, and Amelia

Kenneth Cope after the fireside at Lake Norman

Sunday I had to speak in my ward. I got to sit next to Kenneth on the stand. Talk about being intimidated...I shared a hymnal with him.....oh I just prayed my voice didn't crack while we were singing. Kenneth did a special musical number in sacrament. He then joined us for lunch at our Linger Longer after church. That evening he did a fireside for the YM/YW. Amelia and I felt like his groupies. Heck...he did give us his home addy! ;o)

I was having major Nauvoo withdraws seeing all of the families having Blue Cast Nauvoo reunions. Luckily one of the families that was in Nauvoo with me lives in Charlotte, the Hanks family. I went over to their home and had dinner. Carrie surprised me by having Sister Cowan and her companion Sister Leavitt come and eat dinner with us. Sister Cowan has to be one of my all time favorite missionaries and she was transfered from the Hilliard YSA ward while I was in Nauvoo to the Matthews Ward....which was the Hanks' ward! It was so much fun being able to just sit and talk Nauvoo for hours!

Ethan was doing his magic tricks for us! Ethan is such a cutie!

Me and the Hank gang! (Carrie is behind the camera)

Me, Carrie, and Richard Hanks (love this family!!!!!)

The SURGERY!!!!!

I waitied until after Nauvoo and the Kenneth Cope/YSA Activity to have my surgery. I had on my right hand and elbow....Carpal Tunnel and Cubital Tunnel Release with an Ulnar Nerve Transposition. Basically...I got my carpal tunnel fixed. In my elbow they took the nerve that runs through the cubital tunnel (funny bone) and moved the nerve from there to the top of my elbow (to the crease of the elbow). It was a very much needed surgery and I am so happy to have had it done! Life has been so much easier since then. I haven't had any problems with it. Now I am ready to just go a head and have the left one done....although it isn't quite to the point my right was...so I guess we will just wait.

Me going in...Dad, Mollie, and Sabrina were my supporters at the hospital. When they gave me the loopy meds the nurse told me that I would feel like I just had a glass of wine...well I told her I didn't drink...she said no worries that I would feel it hit. That was the last thing I really remember until I woke up and the nurses kept telling me to take deep breaths. For some fun reason my BP likes to drop after surgery. :o)

I was so nauseated after surgery that they had to keep an alchol wipe on my nose so I wouldn't vomit. I look like death here....thanks to Mollie she sent out picks to the family to show my beuaty. :o)

My Carpal Tunnel...this is 3 days after surgery. Now you can hardly tell I have a scar.

This is the Cubital Tunnel/Ulnar Nerve cut. It looks really nasty because of the sterile strips. But it is healing very nicely!

Amber and Charlie Campbell brought me "Get Well Heather" cookies. She said they would be yucky...but they were really good!

Due to the wonderful stiches and sterile stips I had on and the fact that it would be 2 1/2 weeks before I would be going back to the MD I had to have help from my sisters to bath me. Oh don't think they hated it! They loved it! What better way to serve ones favorite sister! ;o) I have to say I think Suzanna had the most fun with it. She would tell me to look at the ceiling and tell her what was up there (it is the game she played with her kids)...I started to "complain" and she threw water in my face! LOL! She helped me do a mud mask. I got to use her Mud Mask that Ahsley Anderson had brought her from Jerusalem.

Since I was out of work for 2 weeks Amelia and I went on a road trip. I had decided it was the best way for me to heal properly. :o)

Our first stop was in Columbia where we stayed with Shiloh and the kids (Jason was up in NC working).

Amelia had to drive all the way to our destination...which was...Miami!!!! Amelia hadn't seen Jacob, Cami, or Lily since she had returned from her mission. It was a very fun ride. Amelia has a thing for mashed potatoes...good thing she served in Idaho!

Spending time with Jacob, Cami, and Lily was awesome! Lily Jewell is such a character! They took us to one of their HUGE malls...that has a Super Target connected to it. We went to the Rain Forest Cafe...they had a large fish tank that Lilly loved to look at.

I love to see Lily smile!!! How can you NOT love this little girl?

I got a little hungry and tried to eat the large fruit.

The Miami trip was so much fun! I was sad to leave.

But....what is another way to finish healing from surgery....a trip to IKEA!!!! Suzanna and I went with her kids and had a blast!!!

Relief Society....

So right before I left for Nauvoo I was called as the Relief Society President in the Hilliard Ward. I absolutely love it! It is a very fun and challenging calling. I have learned to really rely on the Spirit to help guide me in my decisions. One of our activities was having a Relief Society Retreat at President Poole's Lake House off of Lake Moss. We had sooooo much fun!! We did face masks and watched movies and played games and stayed up late yacking! It was great. We ended the retreat by attending our stake RS Conference and watching the General Relief Society broadcast.

So...we added some lipstick to our masks to make us all look like the Jooker....

Hilliard's Got Talent!!!

We had a talent show in our ward. It was awesome! We had everything from lipsing to Amelia playing the guitar and singing...to Sister Fall playing the pipes to Bishop's band singing to comedy to YSA Breaking news...it was all over the place!!!

This is 5th Frequency. They were the last act of the show. They were REALLY good. I just had to get a picture with the guys! ;o)

Me and Bishop Beachum! He wow'd us with his awesome singing! Bishop Beachum is such a great guy! I am so blessed to be serving under such a great bishop. And can I say I just don't think we meet enough. ;o)

Bonfire time baby!!!

The Gastonia, Charlotte Central and Charlotte South Stake YSA's put on a campout and bonfire for Halloween. It was a lot of fun! We roasted winnies and mellos!!!

Ashely Hall, Me, Julie Foreman, and Mark Madsen

Emily Burton, Kathleen Mcleod, Cayce Hefner, and ME (these girls rock my socks off!!!)

I went with a few others exploring in the woods and got attacked by the creature on the tree!

Children of the Corn

80's Tacky Christmas Sweater Party

One thing that I love about these YSA's is that they know how to have a good time! For Christmas we through a 80's Tacky Christmas Sweater Party. I didn't hold back....I had the crimpt hair....the big plastic bead earrings.....lost of beaded necklaces....pink lipstick....purple eyeshadow....jean skirt....leggins...and pink heals! Oh it was awesome!

Me and the gals!

Fun at work!

One thing that is not cool about working at the MD office....Christmas time and patients. Patients LOVE to bring in goodies for the doctors and staff. It is very hard to avoid all this temptaion...especially when everyone sets all the food at my desk!!!

One of our patients brought us 2lbs of Whitmans Chocolate!!! Yes TWO POUNDS!!!!!!

Me, Lori Robinson, Paisley Townsend, and Deborah Johnson

-just a few of the gals in the office...we have such a fun time at work!

Oh Sister Cowan!!! She just brings such joy to my heart!!!!

December Fun.....

December 19th my best friend Jenny P Moore married Jasher Fowles. I am so happy for Jenny! She and I have been friends since 5th grade. It has been such a joy in seeing her find her true love! And who would have thought it was Jasher! All I have to say is thing happen in the Lord's time not ours

Jasher and Jenny Fowels

Me and Jenny!!!!

Me, Suzanna, Mom, and Amelia getting ready to do a little Christmas caroling to the neighbors.

Reese, Emily, Caitlin, Eden, Adriana, and Sabrina Christmas day at Nana and Poppa's.Preston, Jonas, and Ethan Christmas Day at Nana and Poppa's.

One of the happiest things that has happened since Nauvoo is the release of New Moon. And one more of the happiest things since Nauvoo....seeing the poster for Eclipse letting me know it really is coming out June 30th!!!!!

Yes...I know.....I am a DORK!!!!

Christy Harrah!!! She served in the Hilliard Ward. Sister Cowan and Sister Harrah were the best missionaries we have had in the Hilliard ward! They totally rocked the missionary work!!! We have had 9 baptisms from their efforts....way to listen to the Spirit when teaching!!!

New Years!!!!!!

So....with my job I am unable to take off the last week of December. BUT...I lucked out this year because I had no doctors in the office the last two days in December. I was able to get all of my work done on the 30th and get off on the 31st. I was so EXCITED because I had decided that I wanted to spend New Years in Miami with Jacob, Cami, and Lily! I drove down on the 30th and stayed they night with Jason and his family. I think drove down to Miami...just ME, MYSELF, and I! It was so much fun watching the tempature gage on my car keep going up! I would text people in NC and brag about how warm it was! LOL! I know...so mean!

New Years eve we went to some of their friends house and played games. Lily did really good...we went home around 11:00 because she was really zoning out. I welcomed the New Year from laying in the couch bed and was out by 12:05 am January 1, 2010! It was great!
Friday we went to downtown Miami. Jacob showed me all of the cool buildings he gets to go to and we walked around the area. It was really pretty.

Saturday we spent the day in the Keys. This is "Mile Marker 0". It is the end and beginning of I-95 and Route 1.

Cami, Lily and me. Lily and her blue boots!!!! She wears those boots everywhere!!!

What can I say? He was a hottie!

Had to do a little running while I was there...Luckily this woman was really slow and I was able to rush right on by!

I was able to try Keylime Pie on a stick...it was FABULOUS!!!!!

Ode to Boyd!

Boyd...Boyd...Boyd....What can I say about Boyd! He an awesome 2 1/2 year old! I had sooooo much fun playing with Boyd! Every night during the Nauvoo Pageant he and his brother Raymond would come and play with me. They would sit on my lap and push me down saying "your dead!" I would fall backwards and my tongue would hang out. Or they would just attack me and wrestle me! All I could do was laugh!

Well, on Monday night, the night of Blue Cast's dress rehersal Boyd and I were playing the "You're a sleep...now I am awake" game. Boyd would sit on my lap....push me down and lay on top of my stomach and say "sleep!"...we would do some snoring...and then I would yell "awake!" Well...on this one particular awake yells...I was the only one asleep...as I sat up Boyd decided to got to sleep and smacked his head on my front tooth. Those who know me well know that I have a scar on my bottom lip from when I was younger and my tooth went through...so you can only imagine the next part....I looked at Boyd and he had a massive amount of blood running down his head. I grab him and run over to the first aid station yelling at Cindy to go find Julie...his mother. He is just laying in my arms not crying anymore because he is trusting me that it will be ok. I hold on to him promising that he is ok. His mom comes and takes over as they examine Boyd.

I feel horrible at this point! Here I am being intrusted by all of these parents to take care of their children while they perform and here I send one to the te Urgent Care to get Dermabond put on the 1/4" cut on his forhead! Julie and Ray (Boyd's father) kept reminding me that it was ok. But I couldn't stop feeling horrible. But luckily Boyd didn't hold that against me. He was right back wrestling the next day!

I love you Boyd!!!!

Fun with the kids!!!!

Being in Nauvoo is a blast. Many asked if I was going to be on stage. But...Nope...I had a better role to play than that. I was on the Blue Cast Family Support Team. Meaning...while the parents and youth practiced I got to do fun activities and play....like....making sock puppets...playing crab soccer or "upset the fruit basket"....making Nauvoo Tote bags...building sandcastles....playing baseball....having to hold adorable little babies...making chalk drawings....and the best one....WATER FIGHT!!! It was so much fun! These kids are so amazing in every meaning of the word! They truly helped bring the Spirit to Nauvoo!!!

Karlie and I played baseball. She was an awesome hitter! We would have to remind the pitcher "that we wanted a pitcher not a belly itcher".

Caleb LOVED baring himself in the dirt. He did this on more than one occasin.

This kid can make some of the funniest faces. He was having a blast taking pictures and movies with my camera.

We had so much fun tracing eachother!

Who could resist this cute little Lacie with curlers in her hair!?!

Umm....this is my outline...I really hope my calves aren't that big!

Sister G said to me "Heather, I am a little worried!"

Poor Alexander...who wouldn't be scared with Sister C standing over them.

Oh Alexander...poor kid!

Lacie does an awesome job at outlining Carly.

Poor Oliver...is a little upside down here.

Audrey is such a good sport at letting her sister Ashley outline her.

Lacie is so much fun! We did a lot of racing! And of course she was always so much faster than me!

I think Conner is falling a sleep. And who could blame him? We had had a busy day!

I love his enthusiasm!

Sister G's best friend was Ella. She is such a cutie!!!

Miriam builds a fabulous sand castle builder!

Ella was very content with playing with her legos.

Hyrum is a hoot!!! I love his hat! I think we should all wear our hats like that.

Addie!!!! I love this little girl! She is so much fun! Her mom is Emily that plays Emma Smith. She is not a small little 2 year old. She loves to sit on my stomach and bounce. I have to make sure I go to the bathroom before I play with her or there would be a little Heather River.

Me, Boyd, and Caleb....What awesome faces!!!

This is Courtney....she was in the Red Cast. She is so sweet and cute as can be! She is one years old or a littel younger. She is very independent for a one year old. I was amazed that she could drink out of the water bottle by herself and not dump it all over her.

Janet and me...she was with us working the puppet show. She handed out the beads to the children after the puppet show. Her testimony was amazing. I was so impressed with her wonderful missionary skills.

Wilamena the Puppet, Oliver, and Me. Oliver is such sweet boy...very shy.

Sam, Wilamena, Carly, and me.

Jaylee, Wilamena, and me. Jaylee is such a wonderful girl. Jaylee loves to help us take care of the little babies.

Caleb was so sweet. He came up to me at the Pre-Show and asked if he could buy me a treat at the consession stand. I had to take a picture with him so he could show the ladies how rich he is. :)

Adenen doing his dead man look.

Sister C and Boyd sporting their sunglasses.

Lacie making a funny face! So cute!

"Look at my muscles!!!"

Just a little game of Crab Soccer!

"Go Caleb! GO!!!!!"

Watch out! Don't kick them in the head! ....both commonly used during this game.

Poor Jamee was playing so much that she got sick. She was down for almost a week with a sore throat.

Brother R teaching the kids how to fly the airplanes.

"I'm going to get you my pretty!"

Caleb was being very sneaky....he took this water fight very seriously.

Some of the girls were a little thirsty...Lacie was there to help them out.

Serving everyone else made Lacie thirsty too.

Watch out! Lacie is going to get you! She is behind the bush!

"Watch out kids! Sister Porter is coming after you!!!"