I'm DONE!

I DID IT! 

I am DONE! 

I have officially completed my masters degree in educational leadership and administration! 

Let's take a look back over the last couple of weeks ... leading up to this moment. 

Remember when Kim made me this paper chain?  June 12 seemed forever away! 

With TEN days to go I started a countdown.  This was exciting stuff!  

Those were a crazy ten days; papers to write, finishing my remodel, going to a administrators conference in Park City, Beck coming for a visit .... I certainly did finish this adventure with a bang! 

Before I knew it (even though it had been the longest 14 months of my life! One of those weird time things ya know!) My time with these great people had come to an end.  Such bitter sweet emotions.  Going through grad school in a cohort is pretty great!  I adore each one of these guys and gals.  I can honestly say that we carried each other through this program. 

My rocks!  

I owe my making it through this program to these two girls (no, for real!) I would have never made it without them!  I may be a little ... or a lot co-dependent on them now.  I am not sure how I am going to make it through the day or week without a constant stream of text.  But who says we have to! 

While I am soooooo glad to be done with school and papers and homework, I am going to miss MCKB 319, wearing nice yoga pants and cream cheese and crackers!

I can honestly say that this has been the hardest year of my life.  Don't ask me to explain why or how ... it just has.  I can also say that I don't regret doing it because I have learned so much, not just book learning but about myself.  One of the greatest things I learned in getting my masters degree is that I can do really hard things.  Much harder than I ever thought!  And I think that is a pretty great thing to learn! 

Of course I owe a huge thank you to my friends and family that supported ... but mostly put up with me during the last 14 months.  Ugh!  I was not fun!  But they loved me and encouraged me anyway.  So thank you!  

I AM DONE!

I am looking forward to having a life again, being fun again, and seeing what adventures await me!

"This Too Shall Pass" 

LPP Cohort #27

single digits!

9 days! 

Holy Cow! 

I do love being an Aunt! 

Fast Furious 6

Of course I loved it!  

My favorite scene was the midair body slam, landing on a wrecked car! Amazing!

I would like to know how they never seem to bruise.  I barely bump my leg and I get a bruise.

I sure wish we could warn Han to NOT go to Tokyo.

Grad School Burnout!

It's a Wednesday!

13 months later ... 12 hours of class .... we have a hit a new low!

Lists

I like lists.  

I like crossing tasks off my lists.  

I like looking at my lists.  

Oh my this feels good! 

 It was a crazy semester! 

Tuition

I just paid my last grad school tuition payment!  

Yippee! Yahoo! Horay!

Spring Break 2013

 After a couple of CRAZY weeks I decided that I needed to get away from my life ... to take a break!

 The McPhie's was the perfect place for my escape. 

I had a weekend full of sun and cuddles and relaxing.

I am lucky to have a family that loves me and allows me to love them.  

A break is just what I needed. 

*Favorite moments*

• Ezra scores $17 in the Easter Egg hunt ... the other two $7!
• " Ezra, "Getting a husband isn't that hard.  You just pick a boy that you have a crush." 
• Ewan diving into the wrapping paper ... deliriously happy!
• Hobby Lobby shopping with my sister
• Color by numbers -- The Last Supper 
• The warm sun on my skin
• Lots and lots of kisses and hugs from my babies!

Friday Photo

Mesa Temple Easter Pageant with the McPhies.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Dockers and Pocket Protectors

 The waiting and the wondering has come to an end! (finally!)

It is time to get myself  tan Dockers -- the gear of an official 

ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL!

Yep!

  That's right!

 This year of hard work (oh my goodness this was a hard year!) has paid off!

  I have been offered a job as an Assistant Principal at a high school.

  I am so excited!

Art teacher to administrator ... how did this happen?

One Day At A Time ...

10 Days:

1 Thesis Project Report completed and turned in.

1 Bestie has a Heart Transplant

1 Praxis taken and Passed (Praxis = State licensing test)

7 job interviews

Life Lesson Learned: 

Take it one day at a time!

Sometimes that is too much and you have to take it one event, task, or moment at a time.

I CAN do hard things!

  Mostly because tapping out is not actually an option.

Change of HEART!

Thursday morning I received this text!  I am pretty sure I just stared at my phone for a while before running  out in the hall to call my Bestie.  Was this really happening?  Yep! 

KIM WAS GETTING HER HEART! 

What a perfect day for Kim to get her heart.  It was sunny and beautiful and Pi (or pie to us) day.

I got to go spend a couple hours with her before the surgery.  We laughed and giggled like we do.  But mostly it was just very surreal.

I want to personally thank Kim's donor and donor family.  Because of their selfless decision during a time of grief and mourning I get to keep my Bestie!  Thank you most definitely does not seem adequate!  But for now ..

THANK YOU!

you can follow Kim's journey and recovery on FB

Void Patience

Remember this post?  I thought that was hard? The waiting game I am experiencing now is a zillion times harder!

I am pretty sure that stress has actually turned into a physical object inside my body.

KimiD's Heart

A special Valentines Day message from my Bestie!

Hi all!! I'm Kimi, I first started seeing a cardiologist at age 14. My symptoms were inconsistent and although I couldn't exactly keep up with my peers, I never really sat on the sidelines. As I reached adulthood, I would spend a day each August completing a treadmill test and EKG, then spend the next 364 days forgetting all about it. However, in 2011, my health began to quickly decline, and I spent most of a year searching for a correct diagnosis and treatment plan. I never would have guessed that I would find myself hoping to qualify for a heart transplant, but in June of 2012, it became an answered prayer.

Of all of the thoughts and feelings this experience has brought me, one of the most interesting has been that I think about my donor a lot. Not just every day, but multiple times a day. And I'm surprised, because I didn't think I would feel this kind of a connection until after it happened. See...I'm still waiting for a donor...251 days to be exact.

I have been concerned about my donor since the very first day. In fact, during the winter holidays, I started hoping that it wouldn't happen because I didn't want things to to be dreary for the donor's family during this, and future, Christmas seasons. I regularly think about what my donor might be doing right now, and I hope for the very best things. As I say 'I love you' to friends and family, I hope moments to say 'I love you' are embraced by my donor. When I share an entertaining conversation with a friend, I hope that my donor gets to laugh a lot. As I organize paperwork and account information, I hope that loose ends are tied up regarding important issues for my donor. As I feel peace and patience in the wait, I hope that my donor is also encompassed in peace.

I think about this so often because my donor is most likely young, and active, and believes that the next 60+ years are full of possibilities. My donor has close, significant relationships, and very likely has children. My donor is healthy. My donor may have never considered being a donor, and my donor's family might have no instinct to make that decision in his or her behalf.

In light of that possibility, I thought it might benefit many people if I could address some of the urban legends that sometimes turn off potential donors...

Myth: If you are an organ donor, medical staff won't try as hard to save your life.

Truth: Medical personnel's first priority is to do everything they can to save you as the patient. They do not have access to your donor status details, and donation is not discussed until every life saving option is exhausted.

Myth: Age or medical history (such as diabetes, cancer, medications) prevent individuals from qualifying as an organ or tissue donor.

Truth: Anyone can be a organ or tissue donor. Eligibility is determined case by case, by the appropriate procurement organization. Even I am a donor...my heart is trash, but my kidneys and liver have proven themselves to be rock stars, and anyone would be lucky to have them!

Myth: There are plenty of existing donors for those who are awaiting organ transplant.

Truth: Only about 2% of deaths have the potential to become organ donors, but not all of that 2% are registered to do so. One donor can save up to nine lives through organ donation, and decrease the thousands of people who die every year on the waiting list.

Myth: If you check donor on your driver's license, it will be obvious how things should be handled, if that time comes.

Truth: Hospital procedures regarding organ donation vary from state to state. In most cases, the medical staff will consult with the patient's family about the wishes and intentions regarding donation. If you are currently registered as a potential donor, or are interested in doing so, please have this discussion with them. Imagine the comfort your family would have knowing that they are following your desires.

Myth: My religion does not approve of organ donation.

Truth: Nearly every religion in the U.S. officially supports organ and tissue donation and views donation as an act of compassion and generosity.

Myth: I wrote this in hopes of selfishly enlisting my own donor.

Truth: I hope that my words might impact one person to decide to be an organ and tissue donor. After eight months of waiting, I have come to terms with the idea that it might not happen for me, but maybe there will be some meaning in my experience that can positively impact the lives of others.

If you are an organ donor, chances are there will come a time when a potential beneficiary begins to think a lot about you. You will become the recipient of prayer, appreciation, and concern from an individual who is fighting for a chance at a better life. That recipient will spend a lot of time and effort to be worthy of your charity, and will spend a moment every day, for the rest of their 'second chance', expressing gratitude for the gift you have given.

More information is available here:

http://www.yesutah.org/content/about/faq

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/organ-donation/FL00077

Register to be a donor now:

For Utah residents: http://www.yesutah.org/

Outside Utah: http://www.organdonor.gov/index.html

You can follow Kim's journey on Facebook! 

I know, she is pretty amazing!  I am lucky to have her in my life and to have such a great friend.  I have learned so much from her.  Oh and she is way fun!  If you will add Kim to your prayers I would appreciate it.  I would like to keep her around for a long time!  
Happy Valentines Day!

XOXOX

GNO

A much needed girls night out! 

Aren't they beautiful!

Cross Crountry Skiing for Beginners

This is what Utah Winters are all about! 

(We do have the 'greatest snow on earth' you know!)

Shan and I figured out that we have not cross country skied in about 24 years ... since YW.  Once a month the resort has a women's day.  You get a lesson, rentals and a day pass for $30.  So fun .. right!  It was a beautiful sunny day in the mountains.  It felt so good to be outside and active (this is a dang good workout!) We had a ton of fun!  Someone falling on skies is funny -- it just is!  I loved getting to spend time with my longest friend.  She always makes me happy.  Everyone should have a friend like her!

I think I might be taking up a new sport!

Dreaming ...

These long days of cold, snow and homework are making me dream of warmer, stress-free days!

Motivation

147 days to go.  How do I know?  A paper chain from my Bestie tells me so!

Thanks KimiD!

Utah Snow to California Sun

Right on cue (Christmas that is) we became a winter wonderland.  I was home (enjoying ever second of not working and having no homework!) when I heard a ruckus outside.  The snow cleanup crew had arrived. 

They don't get much cuter than this!  The perks of living on the same street are not missing moments like this. 

I dropped everything (everything means a lot of nothing) to join the fun.

Hun's driveway made for the perfect sled run. 

Getting to spend lots of time with some of my favorite people was definitely a highlight of my Christmas break!  I had no homework, no work, no stress and lots of time to play play play!

While I was enjoying the snow and every minute of the break I could hardly wait to get on a plane and head for sunny California.  Lucky for me Sarah Zobell was up for adventure. 

We were so lucky to have beautiful weather for beach walking and patio dinning.  

 Happy Birthday to ... ME!

 Ya know, every birthday I have had with Jennie D. has been great. 

 We went to brunch at Huckleberry's.  They brought us these plates of pastries because they felt bad for the wait.  I like to think it was a birthday miracle.

  Green Eggs and Ham.  Oh my goodness!  Yum! 

My birthday was off to a very good start!

 

The Getty Villa

Is there a more perfect place for me to spend my birthday? NOPE! 

It was such a great day!  I loved getting to talk about art and playing art history teacher.  I forgot how much fun that can be! The weather was perfect, the art inspiring, the view stunning and the company lovely. 

My birthday ended with tacos from a taco truck.  This day just kept getting better.  

38 is going to be great!! 

It was a perfect birthday.  Thanks friends!

Our trip did not end with a perfect birthday.  

We got to go sailing!  How cool is that? (you probably go sailing all the time)

Well I happen to be cool enough to have a friend who sails.

 New Years Eve was spent sailing along the southern California coast line. 

 Good bye 2012!

Thanks Dave!

 Sarah Zobell rings in 2013!

 After sailing and a movie (the life of vacationers) Sarah and I went to a New Years party ... which needs a little explaining.  

The host of this party had everyone write something they wanted to leave behind in 2012 on a piece of paper.  We then stuffed the papers in a stuffed animal that we would burn.  I actually thought it was a cool idea. 

Where did it all go wrong?  When they (the boys) tied the stuffed animal to a rope hanging from a wood patio covering and doused it with lighter fluid!  As you can imagine the stuffed animal burst into flames.  Luckily the hostess of the party foresaw these events and had a fire extinguisher ready and waiting.  It was all very exciting and entertaining and maybe a little frightening.  All ended well.  It is a new years I will never forget! 

Here is to a great 2013!

Sadly I had to leave the sun and the warm and the beach and the sand ....

and head back to the snow! 

I had the most wonderful Christmas break.  It was fun and relaxing.  I had such a great birthday (that is not easy at this stage of the game).  I am ready for a new semester and to wrap up this whole grad school thing.  Lets get it done!