Is this part of my job?

So this happened about a month ago, but I haven't really had time to blog about it.

Every 4th week of the month is called "Bridge Week". I do not see my regular caseload and it gives me time to do testing, observations in the classroom, Medicaid paperwork, write evaluations, etc.

Well, during the 4th week of October, I was walking into the office on my way to the Teacher's Lounge for lunch. The Assistant Principal stopped me and asked if I could do a favor for her. She needed me to sit with some students who were sick and waiting for a parent to come pick them up. I could tell she was a little stressed out and I wanted to help out, so I agreed to sit with the students. About 5 minutes later the Assistant Principal came into the room and pulled me aside. I hear these words come from her mouth. "Would you do me a really huge favor for me? We can't find the School Counselor and someone needs to go with the a student on the ambulance to the hospital. The ambulance is waiting outside." I was surprised, but thought "I really can't say no." Two hours later, I came back to the school and continued with my day. Just so you know, the student was fine. He had thrown up and looked pale, but didn't have a fever. Why the school called 911 for this, I'll never quiet understand, but I guess it is better to be safe than sorry.

I just think it is kind of funny that they sent the SLP with the student. I didn't know it was in the job description, but was just glad the student was OK.

What a Friday

Can you believe it, two posts in one day! Here was how my Friday went....

The day began getting up earlier, so I could get to work earlier. I am having to redo my schedule because of changes in staffing. (I wanted to cry when I found out about the changes, because it means so much more work for me. Doing my initial schedule took hours of coordination with teachers, but we have the first two weeks of school to do exactly that. The thought of having to do it again made me sick, especially since now I am doing therapy sessions and don't have time during the regular work day.)

Anyways, I worked until 7:15pm, when I am suppose to be off at 3:45pm and it was a FRIDAY. (There should be a law against working late on a Friday.) I still didn't get all of my work done, so I'll be at work early tomorrow. I had already told people I would be at bonfire that night and was suppose to bring the graham crackers for the s'mores. I headed out to the bonfire and stopped to gas up my car. As I was sitting in my car, I heard a click and assumed my car was done filling up. I pulled the nozzle out and gas came spraying out on me. My car was not done filling up. So then I smelled like gasoline and had to drive home to change.

I got cleaned up and once again headed out to the bonfire. I have never been to this place before, but got directions. I drove for about 50 minutes and felt like I should already be there. I gave my friend a call and to make a long story short, I found out I drove on the wrong road for about 20 minutes. So then I turned around and it took a good 30 minutes to get on the right road and another 25 to get to her place.

The bonfire was fun and I am so glad I went. It was good to be with friends and just hang out. What I learned from this...To remember that tomorrow can always be better and to just laugh when things don't go right.

Japan Here I Come!!!!

I found out this week that my family is going to Japan next summer!!!!! It is my obachan's (grandma) 100th B-day next year and so we are going over to celebrate. She is pictured above and isn't she just so cute. I haven't been to Japan since I was nine and my dad hasn't been back for about 15 years. It is going to be so fun seeing family members (I've gotta learn how to pronounce their names!) and touring the country. I was planning a trip to Italy in the summer, but can't afford to do both. Italy will just have to wait, cuz I'm goin' to my homeland :-)

It Has Been Awhile

It has been awhile since I've posted anything on my blog. Well, today I decided to blog about changes that have happened in the last few months or things that I am thinking about. It is definitely going to be a random list, so I'm just warning you before hand.

- My sister, Brittney, moved out to D.C. at the end of August to do an internship. We have been able to hang out for a weekend and went to the Manassas Battlefield Museum. We also went shopping at the outlet mall. She is such an amazing sister and I love her to pieces. It is great having a family member close to me and she is loving D.C.

- School started so I am back at work. I feel so much better about my job this year. I definitely have scheduled my therapy groups and organized my data sheets in a way that makes my life easier. (Sometimes you just gotta learn from mistakes.) I am working with a different SLP than last year. Her name is Julie and she is great. I am at Mullen 5 days a week and she comes Tuesday and Thursday. She has worked for Prince William County School District for 9 years and is just so nice. I miss working with JoAnne, but we still keep in touch.

- Right now I am thinking about my Presidency lesson I'm gonna give in Relief Society in November. I have never prepared so long for a lesson, but I am nervous about it. Typically I'm not nervous about a lesson and feel completely comfortable in front of a group of sisters. This lesson is on the way God sees situations in our lives and the way God sees others. Basically it is about optimism through trials and learning to love (in word and in deed) those around us. I'm not sure how to put into words why I am a little nervous. Some of the talks yesterday and today (General Conference) have helped and also Elder Wirthlin's talk "Come What May and Love It" is one I am thinking of using. When I study the scriptures, I keep the lesson in mind and have come across some great stuff. I really, really hope the lesson is what God wants it to be.

- My cousin Charlie and his wife Paige had a baby boy. This the first great-grandchild for Grandma and so it is pretty exciting.

- I am a little obsessed with "Jon and Kate Plus 8", but now just feel bad for the children. I would love to hear what other people think about the "situation".

- Those who know me well, know that my face tells it all. I often have a hard time controling my facial expressions. I am working on filtering my face. :-)

So those are some of my ramblings. Sorry it is so random, but are you really that suprised?

Will I Get a Laptop or Not?

While I was on vacation, I got a phone call from one of my SLP District Supervisors. She informed me that we will be getting laptops! I was extremely excited, because hopefully it meant the IEP program would be on the computer and I could do more work from home rather than staying late at school.

This morning at 8:39 to be exact, I woke up to hear my phone ringing. (Yes, I was asleep at that time and feel absolutely no guilt about it. I actually woke up earlier this morning that I have in several days. Also, my ringtone is Taylor Swift "You Belong With Me", which my good friend Cat introduced me to. Love the song and glad that it wasn't an annoying alarm that I woke up to). I just let it ring, but the person left a voicemail. I checked the voicemail and heard a message that said basically, "Due to funding, we will not be giving laptops to SLP's who already have computers in their room right now. You do not need to come pick it up tomorrow. At the beginning of the school year, we will determine if you get one."

My first thought was, "The laptops have already been purchased. Why are they now determining they don't have the funding for them?"

So my hopes were dashed, but I think I'll survive :-)

If I Had a Million Dollars

Have you ever thought about what you would do with a million dollars? C'mon, you know you have. Here is what I would do.

1. Take my family on a trip to Japan. My dad is the only member of his family that does not live in Japan and the last time I saw our extended family I was nine years old.
2. Buy a small condo. Not a house, because then you have to do yard work :-)
3. Go on an trip to Europe. Spain, London, Paris, Austria, Italy, etc. Anyone want to come?
4. Donate money to Primary Children's Hospital. A few times a year, my mom and I would drive down from WY and I would see a special doctor at Primary's. I did this from the time I was in 4th grade until my Senior year of High School and he was amazing!
5. Go clothes shopping. I'm a girl, what do you expect :-) Knowing me, I wouldn't find a whole lot and probably wouldn't really spend much.
6. Donate money to the Perpetual Education Fund and BYU.
7. Buy my parents a beach house in Hawaii. They deserve it. Man, this means I would have to visit them there!
8. The rest of the money I would save and invest.

Well, it is fun to think about, but then it is back to reality. I'm just grateful I have a job!

Famous

This made me laugh so hard...

The 4th grade girl that I work with is so funny. One day as the group was sitting down to the table, she told me I looked famous. She said it was because of the green cardigan I was wearing. I asked her what famous person she thought I looked like. After she thought about it for a bit this was her response....Rihanna!

You guys be the judge. Asian/African American, long hair/short hair, hmmmmm.

Happy Mother's Day Mom!!! Here are 20 Things I love about you.

1. You give great advice, which I should learn to take more often :-)

2. You are selfless. There is definately not enough room to write all the times you have put me and your family before yourself. One example is when you took off work to visit me in VA.

3. You are patient. You have four children to thank for that!

4. You are a hard worker.

5. I loved seeing you laugh so hard when watching "Dan in Real Life".

6. You call me just to see how I am doing. That makes me feel loved.

7. You took the time to talk with me for 5 minutes before I went to bed almost every night.

8. Even though I didn't like it, you made me practice the piano and wouldn't let me quit.

9. You would encourage me in my extra-curricular activities (Student Council, soccer), even if it was playing on the volleyball team in Jr. High (What was I thinking?).

10. You are a fabulous cook.

11. I remember one time I was playing with a soccer ball in the house and broke the light in my bedroom. I felt sooooo bad. You didn't get mad, which you probably should have.

12. You tried so diligently to teach me how to cook and sew. I still remember sewing a skirt together.

13. You read books to us and then when we could read on our own, you'd give us a dollar as a book mark. When we finished the book, we got the dollar. I also remember you reading "The Secret Garden" to me.

14. I love your face when dad tells a weird a joke. That is so funny to me.

15. You always made us breakfast before school.

16. You are a determined person. When you say you are going to do something, you do it.

17. On Valentine's Day, you would give us "Love Coupons" that said things like, "Good for one night of dishwashing".

18. You wrote me every week on my mission and I looked forward to your emails.

19. You serve faithfully in your church callings.

20. YOUR TESTIMONY OF THE GOSPEL!!!

Finally got a new car!!!

I've been wanting a new car forever. My Mazda Protege had 125,000 miles on it and wasn't running the greatest. My parents came to visit and one of the things on the list was to go car shopping. They helped me pick out a car and get the best price. (Aren't my parents awesome!). I ended up getting a 2009 Hyundai Elantra. My car is carcoal gray with a light gray and black interior and I love it!!! Thanks for your help mom and dad!!!

Grandpa

Today at 1:34pm my Grandpa passed away. He had went in for a minor heart surgery. The blockage was worse than expected and he went into cardiac arrest leaving him on life support and brain dead.

This was unexpected, but our whole family has felt peace because of the amazing man our father/grandfather was. He was faithful and steadfast in the gospel and geneology was his passion. He had a great testimony and was completely obedient. Grandpa wouldn't even think of doing anything wrong. He was humble, but courageous when standing up for what is right. He loved BYU, black licorice, and taking walks.

One of my favorite memories of grandpa is going to the Ogden temple with him and then we drove to the house that he grew up in. It was just me and him. I also remember that when I was little, he took me the local fire station in Bountiful to see the fire trucks. He was so great about spending time individually with each of his 25 grandchildren and made us all feel special.

I lived with grandma and grandpa for almost 3 years while I worked to earn money for school and then while attending graduate school. I feel so lucky to be able to look back on this time and realize how close we became.

This is a sad time for our family, but we feel gratitude in our hearts for the Savior and to be sealed as a family for eternity.

Five Things

Five Things

Five Favorite Restaurants
1. Cafe Rio
2. Cheese Cake Factory
3. Applebees
4. Chilis
5. California Tortilla

Five Things I Was Doing Five Years Ago
1. Moving to UT
2. Applying to Grad Schools
3. Applying for jobs
4. Making the transition from missionary to "normal" life :-) (I can't believe it has been that long!)
5. Getting back together with college friends

Five Things I Do Not Like
1. Fish or any kind of seafood except for shrimp
2. Car problems
3. Paperwork
4. Feeling stressed
5. Sewing

Five Things I Like To Do In My Spare Time
1. Facebook
2. Read
3. TV
4. Movies
5. Play the piano

Five Favorite Drinks
1. Hot chocolate
2. OJ
3. Chocolate Milk
4. Strawberry Fanta
5. Fresca

Five Places I Have Lived
1. Cody, WY
2. Casper, WY
3. Provo, UT
4. Bountiful, UT
5. Auburn, AL (mission)