Life Changes in an Instant

It's been amazing to me to think about everything that has happened in the last few months but especially in the last few days. Three of my cousins were in two seperate car accidents and all were seriously hurt. They will be recovering physically, mentally, and emotionally for years to come. What stands out to me, is the immediate love that is felt from friends and family alike. Of course it's always there somehow, but it seems to become stronger in times of need. Prayers and thoughts are offered. Thanks is given for their spared lives. It draws people closer together and re-news the love that was there as an undercurrent. The Spirit is also there, giving warmth and comfort, even to those of us who are far way and cannot physically be there to be supportive in person. But as I have learned, even if someone is not there in person, you CAN feel their love, their thoughts, their hugs. This has been clearly manifested to me several times in the last few weeks. It's an incredible witness to me that people all over who care and love you can know exactly what you need even if you didn't actually tell them what you needed.
On the days I have felt my lowest, my heart burns with love and unseen arms surround me and lift me right back up, a peace soothes me like a blanket being put on. I always have to keep remembering this and that there is always always always someone looking out for me no matter where they are.
As I have been sitting at home these last several weeks and exploring new venues, time and time again, the thought comes to me that if I was still working, I never would have learned the things I have learned otherwise. My Self has grown immensly. I have learned to rely on higher authority more than ever. I learned that people really really do care and will be there when you call and ask and sometimes when you don't even say anything. I have learned to live off food storage, live frugally, be a heck of a lot more HUMBLE, be more GRATEFUL, be more KIND and I am still working on the patience part! :)
I have actually made tons of new friends in several different places as well. I don't think that would have happened otherwise. These new people have given me advice, hope, opportunities to explore, places to go and people to see. My eyes have been opened to see the world from a different side as well. I have several opportunities to work with the deaf and heard of hearing in Utah. That has been an incredible experience as well. Just knowing I am not alone in that sense has been a blessing as well. I can talk to other people who truly UNDERSTAND another hearing impaired person, the feelings, emotions, struggles, joys, frustrations, anything else that they go through. Yes, I have had support from people who are NOT hearing impaired and I am truly grateful for them (you know who you are), but to be able to make friends who LISTEN to you and that I can HEAR has been awesome. There will be several opportunities to travel the US in upcoming months and years and to go to conventions for the hearing impaired. That will be a sight to behold and I am excited to be a part of it!
But to all you out there who read my blog, please know that I love you and am so grateful for you. I consider you to always always be a part of my life, you make me smile, cry, laugh, and support me through EVERYTHING. I love you! For that I am thankful! and truly blessed!

The BIG 30!!!

Wow you are so old!---that's from the 18-25 year olds in the singles ward, they don't know the meaning of the word OLD! We celebrated a little early since it's my nephew Tyler's baptism in the morning and I get to lead the music (the second hand wave). So the parentals and Bubba (Camden my youngest nephew at the moment) went to Robintino's for the annual birthday dinner. It was a lot of fun! We then went back to the homestead and met my sister Larisa, her husband Chris, and their other two kids KK and KarKar for cake (which I made...mmmmmmm) and chocolate or vanilla icecream. We then had a lovely conversation about colonoscopies. You are just jealous you weren't there to participate right? The older I get, this is what you feel like doing when it comes to birthdays (see above)
I then started thinking about the cakes I have had in the past...the ones with the keys to the coveted station wagon when I was 16, the one where I found my barbie that resembled something like the one seen here....
Aren't birthdays fun?

Goals in the next year

So, as y'all know or pretend to know or care to know.....I have decided to become a hearing impaired advocate for the hearing impaired. Makes sense right? All of sudden I have this immense desire to learn all I can about what is out there for hearing impaired individuals such as myself. It's been a huge eye opener and just masses of information. I may have the opportunity to go to Milwaukee in June of next year for the Hearing Impaired of America Convention. That is if I can find a job and start saving money for it because it will be a grand total of like 600 dollars (I think) that's for the convention and airfare (they offer discounts to hearing impaired people on a certain airline) and then I would have to find a hotel...so maybe a thousand dollars at most. But it would be one of those once in a lifetime opportunities.

Another goal I have is to learn ASL (American Sign Language). The classes start in January in Salt Lake. I am very excited to learn because apparently, it will be a huge benefit to me in many ways including swearing at people in sign! :) Just kidding!!!! (maybe). But that's my thoughts for the week.