HALT! WHO AM I! OUR OWN IDENTITY

These were the words of the talk from Mary Ellen Edmunds on Friday evening at Time Out For Women.  Time Out For Women is a weekend full of motivational talks, singing, sharing, laughing, crying and growing.  Mary Ellen Edmunds is one of my favorite people.  I have known her since I was 4.  She went to nursing school with my Aunt Julie and she used to bring her guitar and come to my grandparents home and sing silly songs to my sister Lynette and I.  Over the years, I have seen her at different family events and Friday evening I was honored and blessed to hear her uplifting words.  She likened us to a carrot.  When you plant a carrot seed, it knows it is a carrot.  It doesn't decide to be a turnip or a potato.  It is destined to be a carrot.  With care and nourishment, it grows and becomes something beautiful and tasty. 

We each have our own identity and nobody can take that away from us.  We are each different and unique.That is what we are meant to be.  With the proper nourishment and caring, we are daughters of a Heavenly Father who loves us.  Throughout the thorns of life, sometimes we are lost and we don't appear to be who we are destined to be.  The world gives us many reasons not to be beautiful and reach our full potential. 

Over the past weekend, I realized I am very dusty and covered with weeds.  It is time to come out, remove the dust and weeds and be my full potential.  This is not an overnight process or a week long process, but the rest of my lifetime process.  One step at a time.

Senior Dinner

Tyler's grad slide.  This is hard to see.  I am going to try to get a copy from the school and I will repost.  The yellow background on the slide means he graduated with HONORS. 

Garrett Crabb.  This is Tyler's best buddy.  He got an English award and they honored Garrett by giving him a Kindle.  He loves to read and was so very excited.

Tyler with his SENIOR ROSE!

As they called each senior up to receive their rose, they asked each student if they wanted to thank anyone.  This is Tyler standing next to Edee, his absolute favorite teacher at VPHS.

Tyler thanking the staff.

Tyler gave a heartfelt thank you to each one of the staff members who had helped him make it through this year.

My Tyler.

Kira Aarestad and Tyler.  She played a very influential part in his classes this year.  She was his Poetry / English teacher.

Tyler and Maura.  Tyler did not have her as a teacher, but he really liked her.

Tyler and Taylor Watkins - his girlfriend.

Taylor and Tyler. 

Tyler and Meredith Changeoux.  She is an amazing teacher and Tyler will always remember her.  Her husband is from Haiti and they have a foundation.  Tyler helped with their fundraiser a week ago and hopes to someday go to Haiti with Meredith and her husband to volunteer at their boys home/school.

Tyler went to Vantage Point High School for his senior year.  It is the alternative school in Adams 5 Star School District.  Unfortunately "ALTERNATIVE HIGH SCHOOLS" get a bad name.  Let me put a plug in for this school - SIMPLY AMAZING.  There are only approximately 240 kids in the entire school.  It is NOT for bad kids, just kids to have a hard time coping in a traditional school setting.  It is the best school ever!  Tyler had an amazing experience at this school, which allowed him to graduate on time.  Wednesday, May 18th was his senior dinner.  All the seniors were invited to share with two people of their choosing to come, have dinner and honor the graduating seniors.  One of the teachers, Tracy Schuster, created a slide show presentation of all the graduating seniors.  Each had a picture of their choosing, had their senior quote and a couple facts about each student.  Of the 63 graduates, three students graduated with "HONORS", Tyler being one of them. 

Update

The last month has been crazy busy.  My sister, Janet (the Boss) turned 40.  It was low key because I was getting prepared for Tyler's Graduation.  This summer will be a make up party for her.  We took her to Macaroni Grill for her birthday dinner.  It was YUMMY!  I got her 3 slices of cheesecake from the Cheesecake factory - Key Lime (her favorite), Vanilla Bean and Peanut Butter Cup. 

She has always been there for me, to support me, to help me in raising Tyler.  She loves Tyler so much and would do anything for him.  She works two jobs, she is funny, loves shopping and shoes.

Dogs love Janet.  Once when she went to the groomers with me to pick up Sadee, all of the dogs that were there to be groomed rolled over for a belly rub.  She is the queen of belly rubs for dogs.  There is something about her that dogs can sense.  We call her Cesarita Milana (the female version of Cesar Milan, the dog whisperer).  She talks to them and they listen.  It is so funny.  My dogs LOVE, LOVE, LOVE her.

I love her and can always count on her to make me laugh no matter what is going on!  Happy Birthday to the BOSS.

Introducing...

Britlee Rayne Packer
April 10th, 2011
11:00 p.m.
7 pounds, 20 inches

Proud parents: Justin and Kelli Packer.

I am a great aunt! Justin is my oldest nephew, the son of my sister and brother-in-law Lynette and Terry Packer.  Justin and his wife Kelli live in Rexburg, Idaho while Justin is working and going to school. 

 Proud Mom, Kelli, with new daughter Britlee

Britlee

I want my dad!

Spiritual Nourishment

This is some spiritual nourishment I received while listening to General Conference this weekend.  I think these words were spoken directly to me. 
neglecting prayer, scripture study, temple attendance, and visiting teaching jeopardizes our testimony.

Take Me Out to the Ball Game

Taken at Coors Field April 26th, 2010

Alas!  The 19th Season of Colorado Rockies Baseball begins today at 1:05 p.m. at Coors Field in LoDo.  Spring training was great this year and maybe this is the year the Rockies will be our home town heroes and bring us to the playoffs.  There is so much excitement downtown and working downtown makes it more fun.  Baseball is the talk of the town today and I wish I had tickets to this opening day game.  78 degrees is supposed to be the temperature here.  Wish I was headed to the game instead of working today.  GO ROCKIES!

March Madness 2011

Tyler & Daniel at the Pepsi Center

It pays to have friends who happen to be co-workers, who have lucky winning skills.  This picture of Tyler and his friend Daniel were the recipients of tickets to the BYU game on March 17th at the Pepsi Center.  BYU won and these young men were in heaven!