This is one whopper of a story!

My red hots sister sent me a present...

I felt like an exploding starburst. She has already been my life saver by giving me mounds of support already. How could this pop rocks sister of mine give me any more almond joy in life?

The krackel of the tissue paper was too much to resist looking into the nutrageous gift bag that was decorated with stripes and not dots.

My butterfingers had a tricky time locating the gift at first. But before I turned my precious present into reese pieces, I had beheld the watchamacalit gift.


When I saw the whooper gift before me, I felt similar to cry babies. It looked like my sister had sent me chocolate soy ice cream! Was my sister expecting a pay day soon? She knew that I couldn't eat chocolate. This shock tart of a gift didn't last long though, as I soon realized that the smarties sister I have, had not sent me ice cream, but...
















a SOY CANDLE! It looks like something you would find on fifth avenue. So I was the real goobers in this incident. What twix of a sister, would send her sister something she couldn't eat? If I could give my sister one hundred grand to thank her for thinking of her junior mint of a sister I would. Instead she will have to receive this snicker type of thank you blog. Thanks for providing me with the good and plenty laughs and oompas of hot chocolate smells for the rest of this winter season.

Unexpected Miracles

The past couple of weeks have been full of many miracles and blessings for me. It’s amazing how much the Lord will allow you to go through struggles and trials to a point that you are not sure if you will be able to get through it. But as you go through them, sometimes you can see the Lord helping you in every way possible, to help you get through it, but still allow you to learn and grow through the experience.

I had ear surgery on December 19th. This was my LAST ear surgery (Woo hoo!). I have previously had 9 surgeries on my ear. This was the lucky 10th. This surgery was to provide me the opportunity to hear once again. So I am dedicating this blog to my Heavenly Father, where none of these miracles I experienced could have happened without him.

The AMAZING December blessing list of 2007!
1. Before my surgery I had to overcoming a cold really quickly or else my surgery would have been canceled. This was only accomplished through prayer. I have never gotten over a cold that fast before.
2. I had enough vacation time from work to be able to take off the time needed for recovery.
3. My fun and cute cousin made me a great Christmas gift of fruit jewelry. (She explained that this was so that I would have something to eat after surgery, or the dr.’s had something to eat if they were hungry during surgery).
4. I was able to get all my Christmas shopping completed before surgery date.
5. My mom was able to fly up to the beautiful state of Utah and help me with my surgery. She provided the much needed laughs, emotional support, healthy food, and physical assistance (there is much more, but just know that I have a truly special mom).
6. My mom completed her Christmas preparations before coming up to Utah.
7. My dad was able to spare my mom to leave his assistance with his company at a busy time. I’m sure she was missed often during that time.
8. That my surgery was not scheduled till night. This gave my mom and I more time to shop ☺ or explore some fun stores in the area.
9. That my mom and I found the coolest toy stuffed animal duck puppet that just makes you laugh as it creates different songs. This was needed at times during the recovery process.
10. My Grandpa and Grandma Walker were more than willing to open up their home to my mom and I after the surgery for a couple of days. This allowed me not to endure the long drive back to my home. I generally get really carsick after ear surgery.
11. Although the weatherman predicted that it was going to be a heavy snowstorm on the day of surgery, it did not snow at all until after surgery.
12. There is a way to drive to the University of Utah hospital without so many hills (although the adventure is gone driving these hills with my stick shift car in the snow, the anxiety was also gone).
13. Wild Oats had my FAVORITE soup available the day before my surgery for my LAST MEAL. They have the best Split Pea Soup with lemon and mint.
14. My grandpa was able to drive us to and from the hospital so that my mom was able to help me out more.
15. New, and warm PJ’s.
16. A fun “thinking of you, and hope you recover well” gift in a really cool bag, from my sister. She loves me so much that she was able to locate my favorite Kleenex’s (which appears to be nonexistent here) – menthol
16.23. My sister dedicated one of her blogs on me. Some of the pictures she posted of me and her made me laugh, and remember those fun times.
17. The loaning of the 6th Harry Potter book from my sister (I am almost caught up!)
18. A fun e-mail card from another family, who was able to locate the coolest Hoops and Yoyo card that I had never seen before. (Hoops and Yoyo forever!)
19. The heated blankets at the hospital. These are the best invention ever.
20. I had a really good anesthesiologist during surgery. It was because of them that I was able to recover from it so quickly.
21. A wonderful ear surgeon, Dr. Clough Shelton, who was willing to develop the needed skills many, many years ago to do this surgery so well.
22. Fun nurses during post – op. They helped make the time go by quicker.
23. I own a heating blanket!
24. Hummus and Butternut Squash soup (not together, but both of these are something I am really into right now)
25. Good movies to watch to help make the time go by faster and take your mind off of current discomfort.
26. The surgery went so well, that I did not need another skin graft as they thought might occur and this was the first surgery where the back of my head was not shaved! Yea!
27. Wheelchairs at airports. They are great and help you get through security checks a lot faster.
28. Orbit “Sweet Mint” gum. It’s what helped me get through the airplane ride to Arizona.
29. The opportunity to see the most beautiful sunset from the airplane. You can get a great view from up there.
30. Pre Boarding at Southwest Airlines.
31. A fun wheelchair attendant at Phoenix Airport who took me on the “scenic” route to baggage claim. I was shown some cool ways to work the elevators there.
32. That my dad and brother, Trevor, were willing to assist with luggage as I currently can’t lift anything heavier than a gallon of milk.
33. That my sister, Jessica, watched her parent’s dog, Shaggy, over Christmas break. This was a tender mercy as I wasn’t sure how it would be with this being our first Christmas without our dog Finney. It was comforting to hear him bark and nice to have him cuddle as we watched movies.
34. Receiving a 2008 calendar, with family birthdays already marked ☺
35. Fun Christmas Eve family traditions of eating Mexican food, singing songs, acting out the Nativity and bearing our testimonies regarding our Savior and our feelings towards our family.
36. That Lois and her daughter Belinda were able to come and spend Christmas Eve with us. It was a nice addition.
37. That I have a COOL family. and they are all really cute!
38. My newest niece was a great actress as she played the role of baby Jesus well in our family rendition of the Nativity.
39. The ability to sleep in Christmas morning.
39.789. To receive emergency preparation supplies, and the ability to access free music with itunes thanks to the itunes giftcard.
40. A fun, yet very relaxing Christmas celebration of vegging out, watching movies and playing games.
41. Sisters who like to window shop, and who walk slowly as I was still trying to build my strength back up.
42. Target’s great price on Amy’s Split Pea Soup.
43. Finding a great, warm sweater that I did not think I would need in Arizona.
44. That our whole family (except for my brother in law who had to leave due to his sister’s death), were able to be together after 6 years in one place to have a family picture taken.
45. A brother who can make anyone laugh.
46. Digital cameras.
47. A fun night out with friends.
48. Meeting a fun guy and making a new friend.
49. Being in Arizona at the same time the Jim Henson Muppet exhibit was going on.
50. Knowing that Toni and Guy are from Europe.
51. Learning the importance of remembering the Lord and all the tender mercies he gives us daily.
52. Fun family dinners
53. Given the opportunity to have my hearing be even worse so that I would be able to laugh at the funny things I think others are saying.
54. Singing around the piano.
55. Curb side check in at the airport.
56. Beautiful, white snow in Utah, and the roads were clear as I drove home.
57. My grandpa being willing to help me with my luggage (since I still couldn't lift anything heavier than a gallon of milk).
58. A great cousin who unloaded my car for me when I finally got home.
59. Knowing that despite challenges that come in our lives, the Lord is very mindful of us and will help us in every way possible.
60. Being able to recognize just a handful of blessings that were bestowed upon me during the month of December 2007.

The newest addition to my home...

I would like everyone to welcome the newest clock in my home. My cousin, whom I live with, has clocks all over her home and I have somehow adopted this taste into my own place. I love to look at clocks, and this past year buy them. So far this clock will make number 6 in my home. They only hard part is when day light savings time comes. Luckily it only comes twice a year.

New Year's Eve Celebration

What do you do on New Year's Eve, after returning home from being gone for a couple of weeks, and the weather is really, really cold? ... You get together with your cousins and have a High School Musical party!

Tonight we watched High School Musical 1 and 2 as a way to celebrate the new year. It was a lot of fun. I am familiar with all the songs, but had never seen the movies all the way through. I am not a converted High School Musical fan. During the night we decided to take pictures for fun. My cute cousin Holly, and I were trying to get a good "smiling" pictures. But Riley appeared to not be in the mood to have a typical picture.

It's Me!

If you've been following my siblings blogs, you may have noticed that everyone has been tagged to divulge information about themselves that no one else may know. It was interesting for me to read, as I would think "I do that too!" with several of them. But here is some things that you may or may not have already known about me:

1. I REALLY like blankets. I tend to walk down the blanket aisles at stores and just dream about what it would be like to own those blankets. If anyone ever needs to give me a gift and does not know what to get me, I am always happy with a blanket.

2. My body likes to compose in the key of D major. It's odd. I do this with any instrument. I noticed it during college. I would receive an assignment to write a song in a certain key, and I would somehow transpose it to the key of D. Also when I improvise it is generally in the key of D, and in the Dorian mode.

3. I like to read books about (how could I describe this...) depressing subjects. I have this fascination with psychology and how the body and mind works. Lately I have really been drawn towards reading books regarding what I deal with at work. It has really helped me become better in my career as I work with those who have mental illnesses. The last book I read was "Cutting:Understanding and Overcoming Self - Mutilation, " by Steven Levenkron. Right now I am reading the book "The Boy Who Was Raised As A Dog: and other Stories From a Child Psychiatrist's Notebook: What Traumatized Children Can Teach Us About Loss, Love, and Healing," by Bruce D. Perry. Luckily I have an amazing sister and brother (aka: her wonderful husband) who are recommending and providing me with FICTION books that help me become somewhat more balanced. (THANKS!)

4. I tend to question "traditions" a lot. I have a hard time understanding the concept of doing something just because everyone else is doing it. Especially when they don't know why either. I think this may have begun when I had to go on such a strict medical diet and had a hard time participating in all the festivities that are catered around food.

5. I LOVE to watch previews to movies.

6. I am really trying to get into running. It's a big desire I have had. In the past I thought I had to give this desire up permanently as I would tend to have Crohn's attacks after I ran. But I have been learning how to teach my body to slowly accept it. Some days it works, some days it doesn't. But I tend to maintain or improve the amount of time I can run. My sister Jen , and I have a goal to run a 5k this upcoming year. Stay tuned for that fascinating post.

The Power of Plastic Spoons

I have been down with a cold this week. It's been frustrating, as I really have no patience when it comes to myself being sick. I have found though that one thing that brings me comfort is to eat with a plastic spoon. I bought some kid plastic spoons over the summer, and have been using them while being sick. There's something about it that for me makes the world seem like a better place. I don't know why, but I am truly grateful that they were invented.

Jack Frost Nipping At My Nose

I grew up in Arizona and have never really experienced snow much until moving to Utah. I will have been here almost 2 years in January, but still feel I have a lot to learn about how to handle a true winter. Some things though that I have learned since being in Utah are:

There are closets in the Church buildings. We don't have these in Arizona. This is still a new thing for me and just seems a bit odd. I remember the first time I saw this odd thing. I was in Tennessee with my family when I was little. We saw on the wall these odd coat hangers and my brother and sister and I were trying to figure out what they were for.






For a few months, it feels like I have gone back in time and am living in a black and white movie.
















And last, the power of just a little snow (or that's what I thought). Here is a picture of my car stuck in the cul-de-sac where I live. We all had to park away from our home last night as there was too much snow to get to the house. My car got stuck. Luckily it's Sunday and I will hopefully wait for the snow to melt by tomorrow, or I will be utilizing the shovel.