Farewells and Goodbyes

Party #1 (SUPRISE!!) Last friday we had a dance at church and some of my most amazing a creative friends decided to throw me the BIGGEST SUPRISE FAREWELL PARTY any missionary has ever had. Britney stauled me after the dance and then we came home to a house full of tons of friends as well as a pancake breakfast! I was sooooo happy and excited to have such a great suprise. Krista and Britney partners in crime and close buddies for some time now and I am going to miss them terribly.We danced and ate all night and I definintely went to bed with a huge smile on my face.

That Sunday I had to give my first of two farewell talks, this one in the University Ward. It was bitter sweet because I really have grown up a lot while in that ward. It didn't go as well as I thought it would (I was very nervous), but I knew my big talk was the following week so I was geared up for that.

Party # 2 . The following day all the people at the office got together for dinner at Buffalo Wild Wings. It was fun to have the family meet all my friends and co-workers at the office. Our office knows how to have fun!There are some families and friends that I have grown so close to, its amazing how blessed I have been.

On Friday Grandma Pat Hargett came all the way from North Carolina to listen to the farewell talk and spend time with me before I left! How awesome is that? We have had a great time catching up and spending time together. She is probably the funnest and most active 75 year old lady I know. She attends all the major events for all of her 23 grandchildren- what a woman!

Party # 3 for the week: The Family Friend's Open House. We invited family friends just for a casual ice cream dinner. It was great to see families that had helped raise me and how they were doing. it was a caus

Around that brings us to today. Wow what a day! I think I am the most loved young woman around! I invited the office to my farewell in my home Rio Grande Ward. I was VERY nervous to speak infront of so many friends who I usually am goofy and secular with rather than serious and religious. It was a side of me that I have shared a small part of, but it is such a huge part of my life.Well, I was so so amazed that about 20 people with their families and kids from work came to watch! I almost cried when I saw these people who had never been to a Mormon congregation come to support and show their love for me. The talks went very well. Andrew spoke, followed by Mom and Dad. Erin and the young women did a beautiful musical number as well which really brought the spirit to the meeting. I had a hard time from being emotional as I tried to convey my testimony and share the reason for my decision to serve a mission with the people I love. It was an amazing meeting and I hope what we said touched people's hearts. Now basically all the parties and farewells are over; it is really happening that I am leaving.

Family pictures after church (of course the dogs had to get in the picture)

Preparing

I had such a great weekend! We drove up on Friday to Albuquerque and spent the night (Mom, Dad, Andrew, Aubrey and I). The following morning we woke up at 5:3om before the sun was up to go to the temple. After the session we rushed back to the hotel to pick up Andrew and Aubrey to go watch Erin's All State performance at UNM. She did so well on her solos, it actually made me a little teary eyed. I was so proud! She is such an amazing musician.

 Mom, Andrew and Aubrey waiting for the concert to begin.

After the amazing performances, we all went out to eat and then spent the afternoon at the Explora Hands-On Science Museum. I think I enjoyed it more than any of the kids there! We all played like children for a few hours and then the family returned home.

We found a cool mirror tube at the museum to take pictures in. Check out what a daredevil mom I have! I was pretty nervous, not gonna lie!

My close friends Tanya and Courtney picked me up and I spent the night at her house in Rio Rancho, catching up on old times. It was such an amazing weekend and great getaway from the stress of work. The temple just made the whole day, and probably this whole week will go by wonderfully. What a jam-packed amazing weekend huh?

Courtney, Brandon & I waiting for the fresh Krispy Kremes. (Tanya is taking the picture). What goof-balls!


30 more days and I will be in the MTC! Everyday I try to spend time with my family and friends and prepare to serve the Lord. Of course I'm having fun while doing it all! :)

P.S. - Found this quote I really liked:
"To every man there comes in his lifetime that special moment when his is figuratively tapped on the shoulder and offered a chance to do a very special thing, unique to him and fitted to his talents, what a tragedy if that moment finds him unprepared or unqualified for that which would be his finest hour." -Winston Churchill

far toooooooo long

These past few weeks have been super crazy! Teachers must all get together and plan everything to be due at the same time.

Last week in recap: Aubrey broke her arm, tests galore, and fun fun Halloween parties.

(And I guess this doesn't breach patient confidentiality since it is my sister and I know she doesn't even know what the word sue means yet.)

So Tuesday the 27th I had a major test. During the test at around 8am Mom starts calling me. She knows I am usually in class so I wondered what was going on. I looked down at my phone and saw the text message "Aubrey probably broke her arm at recess, meet you at your office". Well working at the largest orthopaedic office in town definitely has its props. I rushed through my test and drove to the office to find Aubrey and my Mom sitting in the waiting room. I looked at her arm and thought..

"(Gulp,) Aubrey it doesn't look too bad..."

But really the poor child looked like she had two elbows her forearm was angled so much.

We took the x-rays and I tried to prepare Mom that either we would have to either put a plate on it in surgery to fix it, or set it in the office. I got pretty teary eyed because Aubrey is not only my little sister, she is almost like my own child because we are 10 1/2 years in age difference (she the youngest, I the oldest). I knew what she was about to be in a lot of pain, something I had previously seen her not deal so well with.

Well the doctor, a close family friend of mine, said we had two options- operating room or office. Mom and Dad left it up to me to decide since I see this everyday. I thought Aubrey was brave enough and I talked it through to her very carefully to prepare her. I gave her some medicine to drug her up and we injected the break to numb it up. We waited about twenty minutes until I saw her eyes get a little crazy and droopy. Mom left the room, I held her arm and the doctor basically performed the Heimlich maneuver. "SNAP". Perfectly back in place. She didn't shed a tear. Probably the bravest kid I've seen in the office yet. I almost cried I was so proud! I was almost as proud of Mom for staying completely calm and collected the entire time. I think that is my fault since she has gone through things like this with me more times than is probably healthy.

With more x-rays to confirm it was back in position and a long lime green cast, the long morning ordeal was over. I was so happy it worked out and that she was so brave to be mature enough to handle such pain.

Getting the cast on right after being set.

X-Rays

Proud of her new cast (She will be sick of it very soon)

Halloween Party:

Jed and I went as Barbie and Ken. What do you think? Getting ready for the party was more than half of the fun because my sidekicks Britney and Krista make everything more exciting.

Exciting week

Weeks like this past one are the ones where you pack all your meals for the day ahead of time, use your car like a closet/dressing room, leave home at 6am and don't return til 10. Days that you hope to heck you aren't forgetting something because there are 5 homework assignments and papers due all on the same day. Well, such is life when you go to school full time and work full time. But really I complain for no gain, because I wouldn't have it any other way. But man, I couldn't wait to get home from work today and kick off my tennies to lounge on the couch for a bit.

Last weekend was a blast, maybe too much fun. I had a "large group get-together" at my house Friday night. We danced the night away and I got to know a lot more people I never had before. Saturday I watched General Conference (my favorite) and went to the fair in the evening. After getting sick on the rides, I went to the country concert and danced another few hours. Mean less to say, I got my dancing in for the weekend. Conference was amazing as usual, but had more meaning thinking I would listen to it in 6 months in Argentina.

First Post

Well, after trying many different websites and spending way too much time doing such I have finally come to what I think is the final design or product. Blogger it is. I'm creating this blog to keep people updated on what I love and am grateful for, what I'm doing, and what I am passionate about. This blog is entitled "From High Tops to High Heels" because I have recently stopped playing collegiate basketball and have channeled my energy and time towards my work and church. (But don't worry, I haven't stopped completely whooping up on people. I play as much as my back injury will allow and the doctors I work with will permit.)

I have recently been called to the Mendoza Argentina Mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and report February 9th, 2011. I feel like I have a long journey ahead of me to prepare both spiritually and emotionally, but I couldn't be much more excited to begin! How luck I am to serve the Lord in such a beautiful country for 18 months. As of now I am finishing this semester as an undergraduate at New Mexico State University majoring in Kinesiology and have aspirations to attend Physician Assistant school once I take a few more prerequisite classes after I return from my mission. I have a beautiful family and amazing friends and feel so blessed each day I can barely believe how much I have been given in this life.