Heather Rose

Life....where does it go?

2011-03-30T23:23:00.001-04:00

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

2010-10-26T17:44:00.000-04:00

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!

2010-06-06T16:54:00.000-04:00

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....

2010-01-13T17:45:00.001-05:00

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!

2009-07-22T21:42:00.000-04:00

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!!!!

2009-07-14T16:10:00.001-04:00

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!!!"

Crap...there's a car....act like a TREE!!!!!

2009-07-14T15:50:00.003-04:00

When camping it is a neccesity to have a campfire and roast s'mores and starburst. Sadly around our campsite there are not many logs. But, Heavenly Father was on our side. Tuesday night he blessed us with a storm and knocked some trees down. Cindy and I recognizing this blessing decided to go and steal some of the branches. We were so excited to get to be sneaky and get the wood. But Darryl just had to go and ruin the fun and tell us it wasn't stealing when the tree was "wind blown". But...we just ignored hime. I know...we are "low bar" missionaries and it is bad of us to think picking up wood is more fun when you think you are stealing. ;-)

You have to be very quite to sneak up on the wood.

"Hey Cindy, Do you think this piece would work?"

"Yes Heather...stop yelling and laughing!"

"Crap its a car! Quick act like a tree!!!!"

"Do you think they noticed me?"

As I was trying to get down a car came and so I had to "freeze" and act like a tree.

I am still trying to get myself down. It was a huge tree!

I thought while I was up there I would do a little Yoga.

Cindy Sue...best criminal companion anyone could ever have! ;-)

Cindy Sue caught in the midst of a laugh! We were laughing so hard!!!

Some fun in Nauvoo...and more to come...

2009-07-14T01:10:00.000-04:00

Nauvoo has been so much fun! This will be the first of many blogs. I have so many pictures and it is just so late at night and I have a fun filled day planned for tomorrow. So I am only starting with a few.

Cindy and I have been trying to be very good about eating healthy. We only allow ourselves one free day. For Sunday dinner we decided we really needed to eat well and went with Steaks and Corn on the cobb grilled. I got to be the grill master! It was fabulous if I may say so myself!!

I know you are jealous!! It was so good! I used a little Montreal Steak seasoning on it and mmm...mmm...good!!

Cindy enjoying my mouth watering grilled corn on the cobb!!!

MMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!

On Sunday the Blue Cast met at the Nauvoo City Park for a Sunday Social. People brought lots of cookies and cakes. We sat around and talked and played!

Jamee and I had to play on the teeter-taughter!!!

Cindy and I made sure to get this picture before everyone arrived. Oh what fun it was!!!

For one of the activities with the kids we did pioneer activities. Jamee and I helped the kids color triangle pieces of cloth that we tied together that made a tree. This quilt will be given to Kay, one of the Nauvoo Pageant Directors, because she is leaving on Wednesday to continue her work with David Warner.

It was getting dark and we had just finished the bottom of the tree and we needed to see what it looked like...the closes light that we had was on our phones. :)

We made the "we" and "u" out of Rubber Bands. Arent' we smart!!!

Do you like my new dress?

Jamee and I roasting our Starburst...yes that is right! STARBURST!!! They are so good! I was so excited when she said that she loved roasting starbust too!

Cody enjoying his s'more!

Cameron and I were enjoying our Starburst! I am not the only crazy one that loves these! There were about 15 other kids there that were in heaven just like me!

"Pockets" makes starburst creme. MMMMM....MMMM....GOOD!!!

Oh how fast time does fly!!!!

2009-03-07T15:34:00.000-05:00

Many know that my life in the past two years has been a wild roller coaster. With many hills and loops and twist. Two years ago my life changed completely. If you asked me two years ago I would have told you it had changed for the worst. I had lost the love of my life. My world had fallen apart. But with the knowledge of the atonement and having the love of my family and friends along with all of their prayers my life did not turn for the worst but for the better. I have found myself again. I have found a new love for life. I have gained a stronger testimony of the atonement and for the gospel of Jesus Christ. For with out it I really truly would not be the person I am today. Today I celebrate not a two year anniversary of a day that brought much heartache, but a day that has brought much joy to my life.

I love to spend time with my nieces and nephews. One Thursday I had to run a bunch of errands and decided to make it a date with Sabrina. When I came home I asked her if she would like to go to Nana's Park and to the store. She immediately put her shoes on and we were off!

One of my favorite things to do at a park is to go down the curly slide! Sabrina and I did it together...both having static hair afterwards.

Sabrina and Barbie had a race down the slide...Sabrina won!

Lets just say I love the dollar store! We had so much fun in there. Sabrina found my birthday card. She read it to me...it even had my name in it! :) We had blast trying on the
St. Patrick Day hats

Our next stop was Hancock Fabrics!!! Oh is was a blast!!! After a quick trip to the potty we found the boas!!! Sabrina had to try on every color!

She had so much fun!!!! She wore the pink, purple, red, blue, black, white, and green boas!!!!

Valentines can always be such a touchy holiday. But let me just say that I had the best dates ever!!! I got to enjoy Valentines all weekend LONG!!!! Mollie and Grant had taken off for the weekend so Mollie could participate in a half marathon in Myrtle Beach, SC. I was asked to watch the kids. Man...we had fun!!! Our weekend started out with a date to Chili's!!!

When you are with me they are with me...there is never a serious moment!

Of course we HAD to get dessert!!!!

Camp out!!! Mom and Dad went with Mollie and Grant to Myrtle Beach so Blackey hung out with us. They were so excited to have him camping out too!!

Saturday night we went back to Nana and Poppa's where I made them pizza. It was a special just for Valentines!!!

February 18, 2009!!!! What a historic day in the life of Heather Rose Guffey!!! ;-) Charlotte, North Carolina opened its very first IKEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank goodness!!! I am in heaven!!!! IKEA is one of my favorite stores. I absolutely love to go in there and look around. I love the ideas that they have come up with in ways of decorating and using the space. I will tell you my favorite thing to do in IKEA....and yes this is very silly...but I love to go to the kitchen section and open a drawer and then try to slam it shut. You can't! It is awesome!!! It is every parent's dream....drawers that can't slam!!!

It was a very rainy day for the opening of IKEA and as I was merging on to I-85 my driver side windshield wiper decided to stop working. I am serious! It got caught on the passenger wiper and then it just went "FLOP" on to my side mirror! I couldn't get it back over! I had to drive looking out the passenger side of the windshield. It was quite funny!

As you can tell I am SO excited to get to IKEA! It didn't even matter that I sat in an hour of traffic...then found out that the parking lot was full and had to walk a half mile to the store because I had to park on a side street! I was going to IKEA!!! Here... this is how excited I was. Back in the fall I received an email from my sister Mollie and with in less than 5 minutes before she could call to tell me she sent me the email I had already requested the day off from work! Yes!!!! I know!!! I am a DORK!!! :)

Can life get any better???? Actually it could if I had all the money in the world and could buy all that I really wanted from IKEA.

So we ended up buying an entertainment center for Mollie's house. We had a ton of boxes that we had purchased. Mollie asked that I go back and get one more dresser for her girls while she went to get the van and while Suzanna guarded the purchases. Well...I hope that Caitlin and Sabrina LOVE that dresser because I got a box cut from it...not a paper cut....a BOX CUT!!! Think of a paper cut and multiply it by a MILLION and one! ;-)

The 2009 Mr. Hilliard Pageant!!! Oh My! Oh My!!! Mr. Hilliard was a pageant that consisted of 9 guys from the YSA ward here in Charlotte. Each contestant had a Pageant Coach. I just happened to be the Pageant Coach for Mr. Mark Madsen!!!! There were 4 areas that they were judged on. 1-Formal Wear, 2-Talent, 3-Swimwear, and

4-Question/Answer. Let me just say that this is not your normal pageant! You could not prepare yourself for what was shown here. I was amazed by these guys!
For the Formal Wear Mark and I strutted our stuff down the run way. Mark is a very "serious" guy. His biography consisted of 1-being born in a Turkish Camp and losing everyone, 2-being raised by Siberian Wolves, 3-loves long walks on the beach, 4-not afraid to cry. Like I said...very serious! ;-)

The Talent Portion of this pageant was AMAZING!!! We had guys playing the guitar and singing, playing the Bass (big violin), doing CHUBBY BUNNY (and fitting 70 miniature marsh mellows!), teaching us about fire safety, and even a reading from Green Eggs and Ham. But NOTHING was like Mark's talent! No sir!!!! Mark showed his talent of composing music for a ballet, choreography, producing and directing, and acting!!! I mean....HELLO!!! It was like nothing ever been shown before! The performance was a ballet to "Little Red Riding Hood". Now this is not any story of Little Red Riding Hood that you have ever seen. Mark takes you into the heart of both the wolf and Little Red Riding Hood and shows you their struggle with their love for each other. :)

The Swimwear...umm...yes...I know...very questionable. But, have no fear our Hilliard Men were just as sexy as can be! They sported everything from Life Guard attire to Scuba and Snorkeling Attire. Mark...being his serious self wore a Spring Wet Suit and flippers. It was matched with a lovely pair of water wings and a life jacket. To put the right touch we had a neon green snorkel mask. He made his entrance by "swimming" across the runway. Poor thing must have gotten stuck on in the seaweed because his "life coach/guard" had to come save him.

Sadly, after all that Mark took 1st runner up. BUT.....HE and I both KNOW that He, Mark Madsen, the man raised by Siberian wolves,
is truly Mr. Hilliard!!! ;-)

Little Red Riding Hood Part I & II

Starring Mark Madsen and Heather Guffey

Music

2009-02-24T18:23:00.000-05:00

I have been thinking a lot lately. Scary....I know. But I love music. I love to listen to it. I love how it makes me feel. I love how passioniate it can make your feel. I love to feel how the person it feeling. I am so grateful for those of you with such an awesome musical talent. One of my favorite ways to ponder and find answers is through listening to music. I have been able to solve so many of my problems through the words of others. So many of my ideas for activities that I am in charge of for church has come from listening to others sing. So I just want to say THANK YOU to those of you in the world who share their musical talent with others!

I love being AUNT VOO!!!!!!!!

2009-02-08T14:09:00.000-05:00

I LOVE being AUNT VOO!!!! There is no other thing in the world that could change that! Or could even take its place! I love being able to walk in the door and hearing "It's AUNT HEATHER!!!" or "AUNT HEAVER!!!!!!!". I admit it! I love being the Nazi Aunt! Who wouldn't love being the favorite. Who wouldn't love getting hugs and kisses like crazy by 13 AWESOME kids! Nothing makes my day better than a phone call from one of my nieces or nephews....even if it is just to sing to me "Super Trooper" or to tell me that no I can't have a dog because I am silly. I love it! I love bragging to all my co-workers about the fun things that happened over the weekend. I love being able to snuggle with them. I love being able to help them go to sleep. So go ahead and pick on me all you want about having great comfy "PILLOWS"!!! I know ya'll are just jealous that I have a special touch. I love being able to read "The Monster at the End of the Book" and "There's Another Monster at the End of the Book" over and over and over! It never gets old or boring hearing the giggles that come from them. I love acting crazy with them. I don't care what others think as long as my nieces and nephews realize that they are #1 in my book and that Aunt Heather will be there for them always!

Reese Cameron "Rose" Howard "Guffey" is Awesome! I love talking to her. We can talk about nothing for hours. She is so beautiful and smart. She is always so caring of others.

Lydia Ruth Guffey! She just puts a smile on your face! She gives the greatest hugs! She loves to hug and kiss you. I love playing the "you are a mess" game...because her response is "no, I'm clean!" It is so funny!

Jonas Michael Guffey or Indiana Jonas! Oh this is such a sweet boy! He is so caring. He loves to be with his cousins. He loves making things for others.

Reese, Adrianna, and Eden were so proud because they learned how to sew.

Jonas with his Captain Moroni picture.

Emily Mae with her mom and dad on her baptism. I am so proud of her choice. Emily is such an example to me and her friends and family. She is such a smart girl. She is such and AWESOME big sister. She is always such a big helper to her mom.

This little boy is so precious! Jesse Martin Howard is such a little BOY! He loves to play with his sisters and Ethan! Oh how he looks up to Ethan! Ethan can do no wrong in his eyes!

Reese and Eden sporting their new poke-a-dot PJ's from Grandma Pam.

I love having my nieces and nephews snuggle with me! I love waking up to these precious smiles and giggles. Or hearing "Aunt Heather it is time to wake up because the sun is up!"

One of my favorite memories growing up was being at Grandmother and Grandfather's house. We would go in the basement and dress up in Grandmother's old dresses, shoes, jewelry, and purses. We would play for hours dressed up!!!! We would play house, school, and restaurant. I remember the arguments over the infamous "RED DRESS". It was everyones favorite. Having this memory made me so happy when my nieces asked if they could play dress up in my jewelry. So...I took it one step farther and got out our old bride maids prom dresses. OH THE SMILES AND GIGGLES!!!! They felt so beautiful wearing their mom and aunt's dresses. They were all PRINCESSES!!!

On Thanksgiving Dad, Mollie, Ethan, and I participated in the Annual Turkey Trot in South Park. It was so much fun! I was so excited when I heard that Ethan said he wanted to participate this year. He participated in the one mile run along with his dad.

Lily Jewel Guffey! What more needs to be said! This little girl is everything! She is so much fun to just listen to talk and laugh. She just lightens up when you walk in the room. She loves her mom and dad with everything in the world! She gives AWESOME kisses! Oh how she loves to give KISSES!

Adam Jennings Guffey...he is so sweet! I love his hugs. I got to spend a week with Jason and his family in Nauvoo and after that week I literally had 'Adam Hug' withdraws!!! He is growing up so much! Poor guy fell over in his booster seat and got a black eye...but he was still just as adorable.

Caitlin Rose Smith! I am so honored to have her share my middle name. Caitlin is so BEAUTIFUL! She is so smart and funny. I am so excited to see her learning how to play the piano. She has such a wonderful talent!

Sabrina Kay Smith! What more needs to be said than this picture! She is so funny! I love coming home on Thursdays because I know Sabrina will be there and we get to play all evening. She loves to eat pink ice cream cones with Nana. I love playing games with Sabrina. There are so many games that I never even knew existed....like "Hide Under the Blanket" Game or "Tip Toe" Game. She may be little in size but she has such a large amount of Joy in her.

Ethan Grant Smith...this little boy holds such a place in my heart! I remember when he was born and getting to start babysitting him the first week he came home because Mollie hadn't been around a baby for about 6 years. I remember his first summer when I would come home from working at the Summer Day Camp at the School House and getting to take an afternoon nap with him. I used to sing to him "A Child's Prayer" as he would go to sleep. He and I have this game of ours that we play to this day...I love it! I love how smart Ethan is! He is always learning something and exploring how things work. He is AWESOME!

Preston Scott Guffey! This kid is so special! He has the face that just melts your heart! He has these blue eyes that are so GORGEOUS!!! When I stayed the weekend at his house every morning I would get woken up by a kiss on the cheek and a "Good Morning Aunt Heather" by Preston. He is so sweet!

Emily Mae Guffey....she is such a monkey!!!!

Eden Marie Howard! This is my little twin! She is so FUNNY! She comes up with so many funny things! I just love to talk to her! I love it when she and Reese are my snuggle bugs and when we are going to sleep she starts to pretend "SNORE"! IT IS SO FUNNY!!!! She loves to make her little brother Jesse laugh and laugh.

Adrianna Christine Guffey...or better known as Oddie! This girl is the best! She is so wonderful to be around. She is so funny! She comes up with the funniest things! Oh I love it! But even with all the funny things she says...she still melts my heart with her smile and eyes!

Who Knew that Lily was a Concert Pianist!

I have learned a new recipe!

I love this song!!!

New Years and More!!!!

2009-02-06T23:40:00.000-05:00

What a New Year it was! I joined some of my friends in Raleigh for a Masquerade Ball. Lauren Mabry, Jenny Moore, and I headed up to celebrate 2008 and welcome in 2009.

This is a group of YSA's from Charlotte/Hickory that came to the Masquarade Ball.

Lauren, Me, and Jenny making some noise.....what else is new!

My beautiful Mask that I made! Everyone said that Lauren, Jenny, and I had the best masks at the ball! I have to agree!

One of the YSA activities was a Luau at the South Stake building. At this Luau they had 'dance' insturctions. Me being the kind that wants to make sure everyone has fun and that another persons activity is successful of course volunteered for the the dance instructions. I dragged my friend Josh up with me. Josh has come a long way from the guy I new as a freshman in high school. He is now a crazy kid from Las Vegas! But I love the kid!

His dance moves were so hilarious! I could hardly do anything but laugh! He was all over the place. Let's just say he made us our dance instructors favorite volunteers.

OH EDWARD!!!!!!!!

2008-12-27T17:00:00.000-05:00

So this year for Christmas Cami had my name to buy something for. I was very excited! Cami had asked me one day on the phone what I wanted for Christmas. I replied "Edward in a Red Bow". She just laughed telling me that Jacob and her had found a life size cut out of Edward and Jacob wanted her to get it for me. She asked me what I would do with something like that after a few days...I told her "hang it from my ceilling above my bed and stare at him". :) On Christmas morning I 2 presents under the tree for me from Cami. Present #1 had a magnet and a sticker in it. The sticker reads "Waiting for my SEXY VAMPIRE" and the magnet reads "so there's this little, rainy town called Forks (and I think I kinda wanna live there)". Present #2 had a mug in it that said "I am just a Bella waiting for my Edward". I was so happy! I asked Dad to make me some hot chocolate! And I just have to say that the mug helped it taste even better.

On Friday everyone came over to Mom and Dad's and we opened up more presents. And lo and behold I had a Present #3. Everyone said that I had to open my present last. I was like..hmmm... So at the end after eveyone had a blast at opening their presents and playing with them they all said "Heather it is your turn!!!". So I had to stand up in front of everyone and open my present...

And this is what it said....

"Heather...Now your journey begins. Something special waits at the end."

#1. It's shiny silver and very neat. You have to have it if you want to eat."

Answer: Silverwear drawere

#2. Mother cut a hole in it, but don't worry, Jacob put a window in it in a hurry.

Answer: The fence to the backyard.

#3 He's sunggly, fury, and well fed. Your next clue is where he lays his head.

Answer: Blacky's bed

#4 Can opener, cannon ball or maybe a dive, a dip in here makes you feel alive.

Answer: The swimming pool

#5-Go in and do what ya have to do, but remember to spray if you poo!

Answer: Downstairs bathroom

#6-Big and Yellow, Big and Yellow. When you go to the lake, take a strong fellow.

Answer: Jason's Kiyak

#7-When you go in here make sure the door's unlocked. It's in a green can with a lid on top.

Answer: The garage

#8-It holds maps, registration, napkins, and extra socks. In Idaho we call it a jockey box.

Answer: Mom's car in the glove box

#9-Picking up dust, sucking up dirt, put on a coat and the cold won't hurt.

Answer: The coat closet

#10- Violets are blue, Roses are red. Did you ever to look in your bed?

Answer: My ROOM!

Merry Christmas HEATHER!!!!

Now I have a man to snuggle with! And he won't complain about how hot my tempature is or if I steel the blankets! :)

Christmas!!!!!!

2008-12-27T16:19:00.000-05:00

Christmas day was a lot of fun. I came over to mom and dad's (I am dog sitting for my friend Debi) and we opened our presents. I got my very first bicycle ever! I am very excited. I also got a new camera that I am loving taking lots of new pictures with. After presents we got to talk with Amelia. We did a conference call with all of the kids on Skype and lets just say that was very interesting indeed. It was fun to hear her voice. It is amazing how she only has 6 1/2 months left. After our fun talk with Amelia we went to Suzanna's house for dinner. Mollie and Suzanna made some awesome Spaghetti! We had so much fun playing and enjoying eachothers company.

You know they say Father like Son? I think this one is Mother like Son.

Chad got some new mountian biking gear from Grant. He even got some special creams. :)

Ethan, Caitlin, and Sabrina each got Poppa a new game. Ethan's was this Marble game. Poppa is having a blast playing with it. Caitlin got him a charades game and Sabrina got Poppa a Dora Memory game.

Grant has introduced us to the coolest dessert ever! Tim Tams!!! You have to eat them a particular way.

First-you have a hot bowl of milk.

Second- you take the Tim Tam and bit off one corner and then you bite of the opposite corner.

Third-you then dip one corner in to the milk and suck through the other corner like a straw.

Fourth-as soon as you feel the milk coming through the other end you pop the entire Tim Tam in your mouth.

It is heavenly!!!! It melts in your mouth!

Jesse is just like his sister Eden...He loves to dance!

My Poor Car

2008-12-03T17:47:00.001-05:00

So, on December 2 I was driving back to work on my lunch break, from visiting 2 friends that had just delivered. I was following behind this big green dump truck heading west on Mallard Creek Church Road. The truck moved over into the left hand turn lane to go south on I-85 and when I looked up at the light it had turned red. I put on my breaks and slid right into the car that was turning left on to East Mallard Creek Road. I hit the back part of the driver side of the car. She is ok. She got out of her car and was walking around. Me....when I realized what happened I was like...."There is smoke in the car...wait that is my airbag...I need to call 911....I hope she is ok....WAIT my car is still rolling...I need to drive it from out of the middle of the road.....I need to call work to tell them I am not coming back....I need to call Dad...maybe he can come get me...wait he is out of town for 2 days...can't call Jacob he is in Miami....man my lip and nose are stinking....I wonder if I am bleeding...oh...I should turn off my CD." Yes that was all going through my head. And this was in just a matter of 1-2 minutes. But, I am ok. I did have them take me to the ER to have them look me over. I knew I had some burns from the airbag and wanted to make sure they were ok. My injuries are....2 burns on my left wrist and left elbow... 2 nice size bruises on my left arm...a nice burn and bruise on my belly... and a nice little burn on the tip of my nose...all of this from the airbag...and also some injury to my neck and upper back...oh...and my right wrist is mildly sprained. But besides that I feel GREAT!!! Thank goodness that is all that is wrong with me. I was truely blessed that nothing more happened.

A weekend of pure bliss with Jason...I know...how could that be? :)

2008-11-17T22:19:00.000-05:00

I finally made the decision that I was going to go on our wards (yes, the Hilliard YSA Branch was made into a ward on November 16, 2008..so cool!) next temple trip and then spend the weekend with Jason and Shiloh and the kids. Luckily for me our ward was helping clean the temple. I drove down on Thursday night and came home on Sunday. In between there was a lot of craziness! And if you know Jason...you know what craziness I am talking about. We did everything...from playing at the park..to playing in Lowe's....to falling down and getting scrapes..to making mashed potato donughts....to painting so much that I couldn't lift my arms or open my right hand. I had so much fun!

The Park

The kiddo's wanted to take me and their Dad to see the coy fish at the park..and also play.

This is Adrianna showing me her doing the balancing beam. She was awesome!!!

Jason and Emily look at the stream. Jason is such an awesome dad!

Jason, Shiloh, and Adam. I can't believe it will be 10 years since Jason and Shiloh got married! It seems like Shiloh has been part of our family forever...and the Cunninghams.

This kid is so CUTE!!! He gives some of the best snuggly hugs ever!

Emily Mae is so beAutiful!

The Trip to Lowes!!!

So, me going down there not only was it to go to the temple but also to help Jason and Shiloh with decorating their home. Which included painting. While Shiloh and I picked out the paint for the living room, Jason took the kids to the Christmas section at Lowe's. Can you only imagine what happened?

Well....what happened was they found anything and everything that danced or played music. After pushing every button they came to find Shiloh and I and do it again.

Emily loved the one that was "Graceland". She thought is was very pretty.

Jason found this planter and decided to see how long it took his kids to notice it on his head...it was about a minute or two and when they did you should have seen the stares....Lydia's was pricless!!!

I found the cooles Santa hat! LOVE IT!

I have now seen it ALL!!!!!!! A blow up Navitity Set!

Oreo meets Billy Black!

So most people think that snakes are awful and scary. Yes, I agree to a point with them. There are those that are freaked out my mice or rats...I am one of them. I think they are a horrible creature. Well....put the two together and you have entertainment. I know...you think I am sick. But it is the coolest thing to watch a snake wait paitently and then stike. Although...poor Billy hadn't eaten in almost 6 weeks and he waited about 5 seconds and Oreo was a dinner!

Meet Oreo...

Awe...Billy is giving Oreo a kiss...and a hug...

Umm...yeah...I think that Oreo is getting a tour of Billy's throat.

I tried to be good...
Anyone who knows me very well knows I was not a big exerciser growing up. Heck Dad even called me Fluffy! (Still have a complex from that one!) Well, Dad and I are training to run in the Thanksgiving Turkey Trot and then in February for a mini-marathon. Dad told me that we needed to run for an hour on Saturday. So...I went running. I did over 4 miles. Well...on my way back up to Jason's house...I had about 20 seconds left before I was going to be done...my foot decides to land where the street and the curb meet....and I must say that whoever made that street did not use their leveler! Because my ankle gave out when I stepped on that spot and "BAM!" I went down!

I came into the house saying "Mom!!! I need a band-aid!!!"

I must say I so understand why little children cry when they scrape their knees. That sucker hurt!! And a week later...it still hurts!

Luckily Shiloh is a great doctor. I didn't even cry so I got a lollipop! Preston and Adrianna said "Aunt Heather you got a raspberry!"

Oh the joys of Painting!

So Jason and Shiloh finally have thier own home again. I was blessed to be able to go down and help paint. I acutally love to paint and decorate! Since living at Mom and Dad's again I have been having my own nesting issues. So...Jason let me come and help them. We painted in one day...the Kitchen, little bathroom, and the Front Room (Living Room). We not only painted them but put them back together and redecorating. It was a lot of fun to see all those dirty finger prints be coverd up. At one time Jason made Shiloh stop and watch as I rolled over some of the art work that the children decided to put on the wall. It was fun to listen to Jason just go on and on about how much he loved the paint and how it made it feel so homey and also how much he loved "Heather!" :)

Jason and Shiloh did all the edging. Jason also washed all the base boards. I did all the rolling. My hands hurt so bad the next 3-4 days. My arms would not lift. Trying to hold Adam on Sunday during Relief Society so Shiloh could conduct was a task. But...what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger. :)

While we painted the kitchen the children had to clean their rooms. Once we reached the wall that was big enough for 5 squares to be painted they were allowed to come down. They each painted their own square.

In each of their square's they had to paint their initial and then paint over it. Lydia was so funny to watch when it was her turn. She kept jumping up and down saying "My turn! My turn!!"

So...those who have known me for a while knows that my ex-husband LOVED Duke. You would have thought he had married the Duke Basketball team instead of me. Well, when I packed him up I kept 2 of his shirts...not for rememberance..but to help relieve stress. ;-) This is one of them that I brought just for "painting'. Shiloh helped me in doing this. It was quite fun! Grant has the other one and will be having a bonfire soon...with marshmellows! :)

I absolutely love LYDIA!!!! I said "Give me a pretty smile!" I just had to squeeze her after this was taken.

Painting with Aunt Heather is always so much fun!

This is some of the finished product. Sorry my camera on my phone wasn't picking up the lighting so well.

The Front Room.

Jason painting the celing. Notice all the pretty stuff above the cabinets? Jason was a very good helper on helping Shiloh and I pick out what should go on top.

This is the Little Bathroom. We took the yellow that we used inthe kitchen and lightened it with white paint. It looks really good. Very calming. :)

Yes...my life has been busy this week...

2008-11-02T16:37:00.001-05:00

So...being single....I have been going to a lot of YSA conferences. Saturday Julie, Kevin, Lauren and I all went down to the YSA conference in Clemson, SC. It was a lot of fun. We met a lot of new people and saw a bunch of fimilar faces. Lauren and I met this guy named Fred that introduced us to about 10-15 people....we decided Fred's name would be "Akward Fred" because the way he would introduce was by going up to someone telling them our names and then making them come up to us. It was very weird.
After the dance we went and ate at Waffle House. There is a reason why I have not eaten at a Waffle House in over 10 years. The people there are very, very, umm....interesting. Our watress has been working there for 12 years. WOW!!!
Following our eventful midnight snack at Waffle House we went back to the Hotel and had a blast at our new game..."Hotel Karaoke". It was inspired by the fact that Kevin is tone deaf and stays on one note through the entire song. It was hilarious!!! We all hurt from laughing so hard!

Kevin singing "O Holy Night". Man did he ever butcher the song!

Julie was entertaining us with one of her campsongs "Peanut Butter and Jelly". New Favorite!

Poor guys had to hear me sing Marron 5. They loved how I would go up an octive.

Julie and Lauren sang New Kids on the Block. It was like being at the actual concert...ummm....or not. :)

Lauren loves her Bonjovi....Do Not interupt her while she is performing. LOL! She really gets into it.

Statesville Barn Dance

2008-11-02T16:28:00.001-05:00

This was my first year ever attending the infamous "Statesville Barn Dance". Wow...umm...I had fun. Really! This year I couldn't decide what to be for Halloween. Then I remembered my friends Jessica and Carolina being Crayons last year for Halloween. I thought to myself..."Why not be a Pink Crayon...You have pink scrubs, pink shoes, cool pink hair for being a Super Trooper, and pink lipstick!" And there you have it....I was a Pink Crayon! It was a lot of fun. I had people ask me how I got my hair like that and if they could take a picture with me because they loved my hair. Man, I love being famous! :)

The Pink Crayon!

The Pink Crayon and the Rock Star!

I must say we are a bunch of Crazy heads!!! (No, Lauren did not get a real tattoo..but it was pretty cool looking.)

This is Victoria and David Beckham...aka Melina the Hilliard YSA Branch Relief Society President and her man Chad Dancy. They won the "Cutest Couple" award...it was Hershey's Hugs and Kisses.

Carving Pumpkins!!!

2008-11-02T16:12:00.000-05:00

This year I got to carve pumpkins with Suzanna, Chad, Reese, Eden, and Jesse. It was a blast! Lots of laughter!

Poppa and Eden being buds.

Nana was our Pumpkin sorter woman. She roasted the pumpkin seeds for us to eat. And were they YUMMY!!

Chad had picked a to detailed design for his pumpkin and decided to go for an easier way of doing design....a drill. It really turned out cool. There were hundreds of holes on that thing. We thought it would be cool if we filled it up with red water and watch it all come out the holes.

It took Reese a while before she would help clean out her pumpkin. She thought it was yucky inside.

She did a great job at it once she started.

Eden stood by her decision and said "NO!" She did not want to touch anything inside that pumpkin. She would run away as soon as you asked her.

I was doing surgery on my pumpkin. Luckily I found all the mush and guts.

Eden was holding "Nana's Bird". What a well behaved bird Nana has. :)

Jesses had a blast eating his cookie. He saved a little for his midnight snack.

Life is FUN!!!!!

2008-10-22T19:49:00.000-04:00

I am having a blast at the Hillard YSA Branch. Lauren and I attended the Fall Festival Dance on Friday October 17. I was Willamena the Greek Goddess and she was Wednesday Adams. We not only looked awesome but won the best costumes. Lauren was number 1 and I was number 2.

Sunday I spent the day at Chad and Suzanna's house. I had a blast taking a nice long nap and playing lots of games. Eden, Reese, and I were having a blast playing Dora Candyland and making "PIZZA".

I know don't they look so thrilled!

Eden and Reese were making "Jesse Pizza". Jesse was laughing very hard as his sisters tickled him.

So Suzanna asked me to get her children dressed in their pajamas and brush their teeth. I learned how to get kids dressed from my big brother Jason! :)

I saw this house driving to the Kannapolis/Concord Ward building. All I have to say is I love the South!!!

Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure/ I am the Cure

2008-10-12T23:47:00.000-04:00

Each Survivor is given a balloon for each year they have survived after beating breast cancer. At the end of the Survivor Ceremony they release the ballons. It is an amazing site to behold. The oldest survivor that we had participate had made it to 54 years. The poor lady almost had to be tied down before she floated away!

Mom and Dad were so awesome in being some of our volunteers. They helped me at one of the I am the Cure Educational booths that was located in the main expo area.

We had volunteer Cheer Groups come from the local high schools and dance studios.

When people come out to do this race they come with their hearts in the right place. I saw this group of guys and gal dressed in pink dresses and just had to get a picture. They were quite funny.

Not only was I on the Race committee but I was the Team Captain for my office. I was trying to check in the I am the Cure volunteers and make sure that the members of the "Eastover IntegriTeam" made it to our office table and to the starting line. It was a lot of fun!

These girls were awesome! They were pretty pumped for 6:00 in the morning.

These are survivors of breast cancer. After the walk we have a survivor ceremony in their honor.

After being hounded by family to get a blog, I have finally caved in. I now have my own blog. Oh boy! I hope everyone is very excited! I finally was able to convince myself that I should succumb to this peer pressure. LOL! I figured it was good peer pressure. So, I said to myself, I love to journal and this is a new and exciting way of journal writing.

I just finished my first year of serving on the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure/I am the Cure committee. Many people didn't realize that I was on the ACTUAL committe that planned the race. Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure is the largest 5 K in Charlotte, NC. Last year we had 13,000 registered participants and this year it went up to 15,900. This was our 12th year in Charlotte. I had a blast being able to meet many new people not only on the committee but also from the community.

I am the Cure is the educational side to Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. From doing the Race for the Cure, nationals found out that many people were helping raise money for something they really didn't even know anything about. So they created an educational program to go out and share life saving facts and suggestions. Working as a co-chair to I am the Cure, I have gained so much knowledge about becoming more aware of breast cancer. For instance 1 in 8 women will get breast cancer. The number one risk factor for getting breast cancer is just being a woman and the second greatest cause is growing older. I have found that the majority of the population, including me, thought that the number one risk factor was having a family history of breast cancer. When in fact only 5-10% of those with breast cancer is it in their family. I was blown away when I learned this. So the two risk factors are things that I have no control over, but I can help myself become better aware with breast cancer and in detecting it. That is why the key to survival is "EARLY DETECTION!" That I do have a control over.