A Day of Thanks...

I love the Thanksgiving routine we have developed over the last couple of years - we start the day by volunteering for the Whitneybell Perry Turkey Trot. This was the 29th year and proceeds benefit the Arizona Chapters of the American Diabetes Association. The Turkey Trot takes place along the Arizona Canal in Phoenix. The volunteers are there to help with safety at the road crossings along the way. We wear orange vests and carry flags and encourage the participants to cross with caution. We get many "thank yous" as people pass by.

We were at the second crossing this year (44th Street and Camelback) and it was much busier than where we were last year, but it went well. We were done in a coouple of hours - just as the morning sprinkles started. It was raining a little heavier as we were driving to the end of the line to drop off our supplies, but not too bad.

After the Turkey Trot, we came home and got the turkey going and then took naps, watched tv, and relaxed. Carol and Duane took care of all the food preparations for the day and once things were all ready, we did Carol's favorite activity of the day while eating - watched Christmas movies. It was quiet and peaceful.

Since I did not do anything to help, I felt extra lazy - but hopefully once I get through a a few more sessions of physical therapy my shoulders will be in better shape and I won't be so useless.

The purpose of the day is to take time to recognize the things in our lives we are thankful for. I don't do that very often especially because so many things seem to blow up in our faces - the preverbial "one step forward and two steps back", but I have to stop and remember what blessings I do have.

I have a wonderful husband who will do anything for me (and for anyone else). I have a beautiful daughter who does what she is supposed to do. I have a testimony of the gospel that strengthens me daily. We all have good jobs in this difficult economic time. We have the opportunity to be together and serve others. Today I am grateful that I am in the middle of a few days off (YEAH for holidays!!!)

A Family Affair

We have been participating in what will probably be a once in a lifetime experience. Since Carol is attending CGCC, we decided we would participate as a family in their Community Band. For Carol that is a piece of cake, Duane is doing fairly well, and I re-learn a few notes each week.

The first concert was on November 4. I could play most of the music and only had to fake it part of the time. It has been fun playing next to Carol and having her tell me "You're doing great Mom", but last week I told Randy Wright, the band director that I was not going to be able to play any longer. The problems I am having with my shoulders make it difficult for me to hold my clarinet for extended periods of time. On top of that, I can't learn to play the Christmas music before the concert.

Because of the schedule and the fact that it is more than a 10-minute drive, I had talked Duane and Carol into participating in the Mesa City Band starting in January. My abilities prevent me from continuing with them, but it has been fun. Mesa City Band will be a much better option in the long run.

Bear Down

We spent Friday in Tucson giving Carol the opportunity to check out the University of Arizona. It was a good trip. She was not too sure how she felt about leaving home to go to school, but she was interested in seeing what they have to offer. We found out about a program they have called UA Up Close and were able to get in to a Friday session. The next openings were not until the end of January.

There is an intro talking about the overall university and then the students have the opportunity to pick two college presentations to attend. Since Carol's chosen major is Family Studies and Human Development, the first one we went to was the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. There was a rep there from her major and she ended up having a one-on-one discussion with her. It was a good meeting. She told Carol about a Child Life Specialist position as a possible outcome for her considered major - it is right up Carol's alley.

The second department we listened to was the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. There are a couple areas in that college that interest her and she has to have a minor with her major so that meeting made sense.

After lunch, which they provided and also included an optional panel of current students, we attended a session on financial aid and then had a tour of the campus. The program changed Carol's mind about the possibility of going to UA. She was still not interested in "breaking out of her bubble" and getting involved in anything outside of class, but we were not through...

We went by the Institute so Carol would have the opportunity to see what it was like. We were able to meet the Director and one of the Instructors. The secretary also showed us around and showed Carol why it is that the students spend so much time hanging around the Institute. It was nice to have someone else tell her that she needs to expand her social circle and she will be glad she did. There were a couple students in the rec room that were quick to support the claim.

Our last stop of the day was a meeting with an advisor, which turned out to be a really good thing - it answered several questions. First of all, Carol found out she needs to change the math class she is registered for next semester. The good news, though, is that the only other "math" she will need to take is a stats class. We also found out that she has to have 24 credit hours completed in order to apply as a transfer student; otherwise, she had to take the SAT or ACT and that just isn't a part of her plans. So, she can either apply between the end of Spring semester and June 1 for next Fall or go for another semester to CGCC and then apply for Spring 2010. This applies whether she decides to apply to UA, ASU, or BYU.

The trip was really good (except for the migraine I had by the time we got home). Carol felt much better about the possibility of going away to school. UA is now a definite possibility. She is opening up to the importance of getting involved in activities outside of the classroom... at least a little bit.

Shadow Day

I had an amazing opportunity today. As part of Mesa Leadership, we are required to shadow a community business leader for a day as they go about their work. The purpose is to observe and question a leader in a one-on-one environment. I chose to shadow the Program Manager of a local emergency homeless shelter. I did not really have any preconceived notions going into the day and the day definitely evolved as it went by.

While there was not a specific schedule to fill the day, it ended up being a fairly full day and it was definitely a learning experience. I was so impressed with the Program Manager and how she operates. Over and over, her theme of "empowering the individual" was demonstrated as she dealt with her staff and made decisions related to clients at the facility. Her approach to everything she does at the shelter is to celebrate the positive, help the clients set goals and move towards their exit date with all the support possible, and trust in the goodness of others.

She walked me through case files and everything that goes into just having a family stay at the center. I was able to sit in on a client meeting (and had to sign the meeting report as part of the legal documentation). I attended a Parenting Class that is a mandatory part of residency for families. The class was on germs and diseases - interesting discussion there. Of course, I ended up witnessing a couple of unfortunate incidents with residents during my visit.

While there were some negative moments as part of the day, overall it was a very positive experience because of how the Manager approaches her day. It also made me even more appreciative of the jobs we have, the home we have, the blessings we have. There are so many things that don't go right from day to day, but I think I need days like today to remind me that I have so many things to be grateful for.

Miracle of Modern Medicine

If you had your choice of either option, which would you choose? Personally, I would choose the one on the right. Fortunately for me, that is the option used by the company that I was referred to for my MRI. Truly I had planned on never having an MRI in my life knowing that my claustrophobia would not like the procedure very well; however, the pain in my shoulders is not improving so it is time to look elsewhere for answers.

I have to pat myself on the back for getting through that procedure without having a heart attack, but if the open MRI is quieter than the closed MRI, I would really hate to be inside a closed one because this one got pretty loud at times. There were several series, each one no longer than 5 minutes, for a total of about 40 minutes. I did it and tomorrow I will find out if it will give us any answers. Let's hope so because this pain in my arms and shoulders has me about ready to chop them off at times. Until tomorrow...

All Grown Up

I have decided that if I am ever going to make a go of this I just have to do it and not worry about all the things I wanted to put on here from the start, but never managed to get done - just start from today and go forward. So here goes...



Yesterday Duane and I experienced one more piece of evidence that our little girl is all grown up. Deseret Book's Time Out for Women and Girls was held in downtown Phoenix. I had another commitment and was not going to be able to attend, but Carol wanted to go anyway. She decided to see if Janet could go with her (and Michelle let her). The two of them headed out yesterday morning for the day's event.

Carol has never driven downtown, let alone been there on her own, but with map in hand she headed out. When she got home, she could not stop talking about the wonderful day they had. She is ready to go out and buy all the CDs for all the speakers that she doesn't already have. Those she did not already know about are now among her favorites. She and Janet had a great time together and look forward to the opportunity when they can do other things together in the future.

Of course, Carol is now trying to figure out what she can do with each of the other girls so they can have their turn...