the county fair

Wow....the Utah County Fair. This place is dirty, ghetto, and just plain weird! I don't know how much explanation is needed, but I think these pics do it justice.

First can we discuss the weird belly dancer gypsies. I had to hide my face because I was laughing so hard! They seriously thought they were the hottest women alive, and it was actually quite pathetic. Notice they can also balance swords on their heads...very talented women.

Please take the time to watch a snippet of their moving performance...


Ok, time to move on to other fabulous and just funny parts of the county fair.

For example, to our left we have an amazing piece of art. It is made entirely out of nitrile exam gloves...unique?














And to our right this pig's head cake won a prize! Isn't it just a wonderful cake? Where else does a pig head with chocolate chips stuffed in its mouth win an actual prize? Its just awesome :)


This porcelain doll isn't creepy at all. I think it fits right in with every other weird thing at the fair...

This is a cultural thing I just must not be in to, but seriously can you tell me these things are "normal"?

The one saving grace of the County Fair, Texas Twisters. The best $6 drink ever. It is a little piece of heaven with lemons, and limes. Yay for good times at the County Fair :)

Outfit Choices

I don't put too much thought into what I wear everyday. Especially since I work at 7, and I could care less what I look like at that time of morning. So who would ever guess that my clothing choices were somehow emotionally connected to me....Well I only have one days worth of photo documentation, but I dress Sam in the same colors as me every morning. Not on purpose. And today was especially bad! About mid-afternoon I realized we were wearing the exact same thing. The weird thing is I realize the matching clothes each day at the end of my shift and never realize it again til the same time the next day. I just think its so weird that I actually have a reason subconsciously for what I'm wearing, because I wouldn't just choose the same thing twice a day if it didn't mean something. Crazy Sauce. This is really interesting to me. I want to know why I do this. Why do I choose what I'm gonna wear, and then put Buddha in the same thing??

(I can't post pics of the people I take care of...stupid laws)

life

Time seems to pass with more speed as the days go on. I find that having 5 minutes to think by myself is a blessing. I love jam-packing my schedule with lots of good things, but sometimes I want just 1 day to have to catch up on everything and to have for myself. But I doubt that will happen.

I'm sort of on edge and stressed right now. One of the boys I take care of, Thad, only has a few days left in this life. More than likely I will be there when he passes away. There could never be enough words to describe all my feelings about this. Every moment I fear that it might be his last breath. Life is so precious. He has always been so close to the veil. I just hate seeing him fight for every breathe and be in pain. He has stopped eating and drinking and won't take most of his meds. How can I not feel guilty when he passes away? If I'm there I know I will worry I didn't do something right. I worry for his sisters. They are struggling.

Where do I fit? How do I help this experience be a little smoother and how do I provide comfort?

I'm just so grateful and still very stunned that I get to have the opportunity to take care of him in his last days. What an angel. So scary that he could be gone when I go into work early tomorrow morning. I worry that I won't be of enough help to his sisters once it happens.

But all the worry in the world won't help the situation. I just keep a constant prayer in my heart that by the guidance of the spirit I will know what to do.

It reminds me that everyone's life is fragile and I need to let those people I care about know I love them. So if you're reading this....I love you. Honest. Thank you for all that you help me with each and every day.

Special Olympics!!

The Results are in:

Jade (Tennis Ball Throw)-2nd place
He focused so hard and threw so well! I was his one-on-one coach and loved every minute of it!

Ryan (Wheelchair Race)-3rd place
I got to time his race, and so he saw me cheering the whole time! He was adorable & so excited!

Rob (Wheelchair Race)-4th
So sad! His wheel caught on to this rubber stuff on the track and he got stuck. But he kept a huge smile on his face and I couldn't have been more proud of his great attitude.

Davy (Tennis Ball Throw)-1st place
So Davy is blind and deaf, and he also happened to have allergies the day of Olympics and so the nurses gave him a lot of meds. He was completely out of it!!!! It was so hilarious! I spent 20 minutes shaking him and patting his face, and he wouldn't budge. So I wheel him up to the place he is supposed to throw and I set the ball in his hand, and it was like a catapult with me pushing it. Everyone was laughing because he wouldn't wake up, and he ended up getting 1st :) It was so funny! He loved playing with his medal after!

O boy!! Special Olympics were the best!! I got to be an official coach, and everything :) It was awesome to see my boys get so excited, and do their best. I felt so proud.

Something else that was just simply amazing was that, my mom and dad came to support them! THEY LOVED THAT!!! Now keep in mind it was a bazillion degrees, and my mom was dying, but she didn't complain and she stayed the whole time. I was so happy and grateful they supported the guys.

p.s. Rob and my dad are pretty much BFF's now, and it is adorable :)

angels

So I am new to this blogging business.
I get confused on what I'm supposed
to write, but then I feel left out that
I'm not a part of the craze.

I can't compete with my creative
cousin, who is also super adorable, but
I will be me :)

I went swimming with the people I take care of, lets say Sam and Stu. Its amazing how much attention two sweet

kids can get from the whole rec center. Eyes were staring. Completley fixed on them. Did they think we didn't notice?
Everytime we exchanged words or moved,
the whole room was
fixed
on Sam, Stu,
and me.

Some talents lie in baking, or cleaning, others in singing.
I wish more were able to see people for the way they
are. The way our Father sees each of us.

Able to love, and accept.
Love everyone, even if
they hunch over when walking,
or can't even move.
Even if they are making
weird grunts, or
can't control their movement.
If they can't communicate
the way we "normal" people do.
They should be loved and accepted even more then "the normal joe" you pass on the street.
There is a light and spirit stronger in each one of them that we could only hope to have one day.

I'm kinda passionate about this :)

Anyways,
I'm grateful that Sam and Stu
don't judge those that stare,
make mean comments,
or don't understand.
They automatically love and accept Everyone.

I'm grateful Ryan, Jade, David, Rob, Sam, and Stu are all a huge part of my life.

If you want an instant smile Or you need a reminder of how lucky You are Just tell me, Come visit any one of them, and you won't regret it.
I have the 2 best jobs in the world.