Isabella

I am an aunt!!! My brother Spencer and his wife Krystal had a little baby girl on July 22, 2011, just 2 days after my birthday! Her name is Isabella Okada and she weighed 7 lbs. 7 oz. and was 18 in. long. The baby and mom are doing well. I flew out to UT on July 14th to surprise my brother and grandma. My parents didn't know I was here either. (My mom flew in from Cody today and my dad, who had some work to finish up, will drive down in a few days.) Our family is so excited and I am already in love!!!





See Facebook for a few more pics!

One moment can change everything!

I recently have been thinking about how one moment, one phone call, one person can change everything.

One of my good friends found out on Friday that her cousin (actually 2nd cousin) who she was very close to was killed in Afghanistan. He was a marine and stepped on an IED. He was engaged and suppose to come home in August. Needless to say it was heartbreaking for the entire family. Her family's life changed in a moment.

For me it has been simple phone calls that have totally changed my life. A phone call that one of my girls in the ward (I was serving as the Relief Society President) was cutting herself. (I could write a book about RSP phone calls!) A phone call that my grandpa was in a coma. A phone call that I got the job and needed to move across the country.

There have also been certain people in my life who have taught me life lessons either through their words or examples. Without them I would be a completely different person. I feel nothing but joy when I think of these family members, friends, and mentors.

While thinking about this, it once again reminded me that every decision we make, every person we meet, and every moment in life is important. There have been many days where I should have responded with more love, served a friend or stranger, or simply held my tongue. I am incredible gratefully to Heavenly Father for another day filled with moments that may change my life and hopefully another peron's life for the better.

It has been too long!

Man I am a slacker!!!! I can't believe it has been since April I have posted. Well here is just a quick update...

- School is out! This year was...ummmm...interesting.
- I will start going to the family ward in the next little bit. I am ready, but will definitely miss the Union Mill Ward!
- The biggest news is that my brother and his wife are having a baby in July!!!!! I am gonna be an aunt. Excited doesn't even begin to describe what I am feeling!!!! I have decided to completely spoil her!!!

A month in the life of a Speech Pathologist

So these are somethings that have happened at work in the past month or so.

1. I had to move out of my room, because they needed it for testing. Let's just say I agreed to do it for 2 days (or so I thought), but it ended up being 5. Guess who ended up putting all the laptops, cords, etc. onto a cart so they could be hauled off.

2. Attended about 16 meetings in 2 days.

3. Almost went over the legal limit for my caseload.

4. Had a student throw-up during speech.

5. Laughed (not out loud) when a student came wearing florescent pink leggings and a mini jean skirt. Hello 80's!!!!!!

6. One of my 5th grade students skipped school. She was bullied on the bus and either hid in the bushes and then walked home (her story) or else on her way down to speech ditched school and walked home (teacher had her marked present).

7. Wrote 64 progress reports.

8. Laughed almost everyday, because of something funny a student said or did.

9. Called my dad and told him I hated my job. Called my dad and told him it will be good to get back to work on Monday.

10. SPRING BREAK!!!!!

Love this!!!!

Where have you been all my life Nookcolor!!!! I haven't worked since Wednesday (we got a ton of snow) and have been reading like crazy. This little device not only lets me download books, but I can also get on the Internet. My favorite feature is the Pandora radio station that lets me listen to my favorite music while reading. I am one happy girl. Thanks Mal for inspiring me to get one! :-)

Update

So once again I haven't blogged in awhile. I thought I would just do a quick update.

- Work is good, but sooooooo busy. Lately there have been several nights when I am there until after 5:30 and a few nights when I have been there until almost 7:00. I am so glad we had Vetran's Day off and Thanksgiving Break. They were defintely needed.

- I had been serving as the 1st Counselor the Relief Society Presidency in my Ward. The Bishop called me in to his office and said we were going to be released. Then he asked if I would be willing to serve as the 1st Counselor in the new Relief Society Presidency. I was surprised, but so excited. Love it, love it, love it!

- My sister, Brittney, came to D.C. to visit me before she left for her mission. Here is a list of the things we did. We saw a lot and it was exhausting, but worth it!!!!!

Went to the temple and also the Vistor's Center
Night tour of the monuments
National Portrait Gallery
National Cathedral (We went to the top were you get an absolutely amazing view of D.C.)
Library of Congress
Surpreme Court Building
Scupture gardens

- I got sick :-( I even took a sick day and didn't go into work.

- Brittney is now in the MTC (Missionary Training Center) and we got her first email Monday. She is doing fabulous and her email made me miss my mission.

- Thanksgiving was wonderful. I went to my Bishop's house along with a few other people. The food was delicious! We played games and just chatted.

So there is my attempt to keep up my blog :-) Loves to ya!!!!

The things my daddy says...

(Pic of my dad and his sister, Sanae, doing Karaoke in Japan)


It is my dad's B-day today! Here are just a few of the funny/cute things my dad has said to me.

This just happened today...I was talking to him on the phone for his B-day and this is how the conversation went.

A - "So what is mom fixing you for your B-day dinner?"
D - "She is fixing me Okonomiyaki. Do you remember eating that at Sanae's house?
A - "Yeah, I remember."
D - "We got the materials for it yesterday."
A - "Materials? You mean ingredients?"
Both of us started laughing

In Japan we took a rope tour up a mountain. You are suppose to be able to see monkeys, but we didn't see any. This is what my dad said to the family, but while looking at me.

D - "I have a little monkey." (says this while looking at me)
D - "And I will keep you, and I will love you, and I will feed you bananas!"

When we were little and my dad wanted us to hurry so we could leave (mostly this was so we weren't late for church) he would say, "Chop suie". I thought this was something everyone said until I said it to a friend and she had no idea what it meant.

The last one my dad actually didn't say to me, but this was in a letter he wrote me while I was serving a mission in Georgia. He ended his letter by saying "I love you from the bottom of my heart."

I love you too Dad!!!!!