Welcome to Washington D.C.

I just finished my first week being in Washington D.C.. It is amazing out here, I love it! My flight was great and I made a few friends along the way. Dad dropped me off at the airport and I went to check my bag. Unfortunately, I am a better packer than I thought. I figured if I could fit it in my suitcase then it must be under the weight requirement. I was sadly mistaking and my bag was 21 pounds overweight. I quickly called my dad just in case I had to throw some clothes back into the car. I found an inexpensive suitcase that seemed to have enough room to fit an extra twenty pounds in. The lady at the store was nice enough to help me about a bit and she said that it's pretty common for people to pack big suitcases and be about 21 pounds over. (50 pounds is the limit.) I made it, barely and was headed through security. Because I had things packed so well and there were lots of little jewelery boxes and things they had so search my carry on. So we went though that and finally made it to my gate. There was a lady there who I stood next to through security and asked where I was going and was interested in what I was doing. About a minute after I sat down she came over and asked me if I could tell her more about what I was doing. I did and she gave me her card and said she takes people to South Africa and she would love for me to come with her. I am looking more in to it and we will see if the opportunity arises. Then when I was on the plane there was a gentleman in front of me that was making the same connection as I was. We decided we'd go together. He ended up being the press secretary for an Idaho congressmen, Phil Hardy. We made it to our next gate and watched each other's stuff while we got something to eat. He even offered to give me a private tour of the Capitol. He told me who to ask for and what to do. We were watching the basketball game on TV when they started to board, I looked at the flight and realized that game was going to Pittsburgh. We surely did not want to be going to Pittsburgh! We got help and found out where our flight had been reassigned to, don't worry it was all the way down the corridor. When we finally got there, everyone had boarded and we were just hoping they had not closed the gate yet. Luckily they hadn't and we made it on. I was only a few hours away from my new summer home, Washington D.C.! It's not a very good picture but here is my first view of the city.

The Best Friend

"A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words."

"Best friend is someone who knows all about you and loves you anyway."

"A true friend is one who thinks you are a good egg even if you are half cracked."

"We didn't realize we were making memories, we just knew we were having fun."

None of these quotes can quite describe the bond we have. For we are best friends and will always be. Our friendship began last summer. Little did this girl know that all summer she was going through a rigorous interview to see if she met the qualifications the qualifications to be my roommate and since then we have had nothing but wonderful memories. When I finally gained enough courage to ask her I sent her a text saying, "I have a very serious question to ask you." She responded with, "I will do my best to give you a very serious answer." I asked her if she would like to move in with us in a few weeks at the end of the summer. Then...nothing. All day I waited for a response, and never got one. She finally texted me later saying she did not want to leave her old roommate alone and she would let me know. As I wait in suspense she took her time getting back to me. She thought it would be fun but needed to make sure her old roommate had someone to live with before she left. Finally she decided she we moved and we threw all her stuff out her back door and hauled it up to my apartment and a wonderful little place we called home for the next 8 months.
Our first bonding moment I think sealed the deal in our friendship. We were at a ward activity at our bishops house playing games on the trampoline. She was wearing a pair of camo shorts and was rolling around. She rolled and I noticed that one color didn't quite match the rest of the camo. I very quickly had he sit down and she realized the little rip sound she had heard earlier were actually her pants that had ripped and had since ripped all the way down. Luckily the bishops daughter was visiting and had an extra pair of pants to loan her. A true friend is there when your pants rip and then continues to laugh with you months after the event.
Since that time we have had so many fun times together. Happy times and sad times, we faced them together. There are times with this girl that will always hold a dear place in my heart.
One of my very favorite things about this winter was all the nights she and I would sit on the couch in our bathrobes her drinking hot cocoa and me drinking hot cider, chatting on Facebook to each other while having a conversation. We did this a lot in between Thanksgiving and Christmas!
So she has an Native American flute that she like to play before she goes to bed. Let me tell you, if you want to fall asleep fast have one of those in the background and you'll be out like a light! One night she was showing our friend her flute and he decided it sounded like he should start to narrate. During the narration and flute playing I felt it an appropriate time to use my interpretive dance skills. The only thing was I was sitting in a banana chair which somewhat limited the true ability of my skills. Apparently my "falling leaf" was pretty funny in a chair and she couldn't play while watching me without laughing. Once we got past that minor quirk we decided we had a pretty good show between the three of us and that we should take our show on the road. So look for us coming soon! (:
We spent so much time together we started doing many of the same things. We would have the same thoughts and responses. We would even run into the same walls. Possibly the running into things was more of just me. I'd run in to the door way, I'd fall into the bathtub, off my bed or other various thing. She would always be there and sometimes laugh or just not comment which made the situation even funnier.
So many times I would be sitting in class and get a text and it was something hilarious! Above all I think the best thing is when you have a friend that sends you a quick text just telling you they hope you have a wonderful day. I am grateful for the time I have had to get to know this girl. She is a great example and I am so excited for her to serve a mission in Sweden. Thanks for everything girl! I sure like you!

Winter Entertainment

One of the best things about living in Utah is the fact that there are so many ski resorts in such a close proximity. I love skiing but as a college student I would rather budget my money to other things than paying for the lift tickets. However, I have a good friend who can get me passes to Sundance sometimes so off we were to spend the night skiing! The only problem resulting from this was I remember how much I love skiing. Consequently I went again a few more times after that. I decided next year I am just going to get a season pass. Since I started skiing so late in the season Sundance closed before we had our fill of skiing so we went to Brighton. Here's an action shot from there.

I love to ski and I am good enough now I can do most blacks. I not always with perfect control like I would like but I have the skills to make it don't without killing myself and most often not even falling down.

If you look closely at this photo you can see the jacket I am wearing is from Niceville Wrestling. I have been accused of having a Mary Poppins bag I usually try to always be prepared. So I spent the morning before we left for Brighton getting everything ready. I even had snacks for the way back because we are always hungry after we're done. So we made it up to Brighton and everyone was getting dressed and I went to the back of the car to get my ski jacket and realized it was not there but it was still in my coat closet at home. I luckily had some friends who let me borrow a few things and I stayed plenty warm! Winters in Utah are hard to endure sometimes but at least skiing gives you something to look forward to!

And that's a wrap!

Well the end of the school year has come to an end. We finished all our finals, we passed all our classes, we moved out of our apartment and a new chapter of our lives ahead of us. With the end of my junior year also ends the year I spent serving on the service council. I really am at a loss for words on how this year has affected me. There have been ups and downs and all of them have been moments that have shaped and molded me into who I am today. These 12 other people that I have spent so much time with have been wonderful examples of being an instrument in the Lord's hand to me. We have hiked the grand canyon, spent early mornings together, laughed and cried together, and wandered around southern Utah enjoying God's masterpiece. I am grateful for the time I have spent with these people and loved learning from and growing with them. I love you Service Council of 2010-2011, you have changed my life and forever have a place in my heart!

Traygen James Clark

February 23, 2010 Traygen James Clark came into this world. He is such a joy in our family. We love him more than any little child. Since I was in the middle of midterms and it's hard to get away from school We met and Traygen's great grandparents house in Brigham City. When his favorite aunt got there we proceeded to have a photo shoot!
This is Great Grandpa Jim who Traygen's middle name comes from. I have never met someone more proud. He calls him "Little Jim" this, by far, is the cutest nickname for him yet!

Then Great Grandma had her turn. She knows all the tricks to new babies. I think she's had a few years of experience.

I finally made it through the one day blizzard that Utah seems to have so many have in the spring. For the very first time I got to meet him and I love him so much! It is so touching to hold something that not very long ago was in the presence our Heavenly Father.


This is one of my favorite pictures from the day

Over the past semester I have have taken a child development class and even more I love children. I am so excited to spend every day this summer working, playing, and loving them. They are so special to our Heavenly Father and I learn so much from their simple faith and love. I am excited for the day when Lord trusts me enough to put one of His children in my care.

Small town girl moving to the big city!

Most of my life has been spent in a small town living on a farm. I love the way I was raised and have learned things that could be taught in no other way. Moving to Provo was a big change for me and I loved it. The concept of having more than one option when shopping for groceries is kind of fun and a mall just up the road is awesome! Well Provo is a little bit of a bubble and I'm ready for an adventure and I've found one! This summer I will be moving to WASHINGTON D.C!!

I'm so excited I can hardly stand it! Over Christmas break I was praying a lot about what I should do over the summer. I had some ideas but none of them felt quite right. One morning I woke up and decided that I needed to move to Washington D.C.. I wasn't exactly sure how my parents would take it so I went and told them and they were fully supportive of me. Yes, there were a little nerves letting their little girl move all the way across the country but they know it will be a great experience and an opportunity that I may never have again.
Once I made it past the decision to move I needed to find a job to support me while I am out there. As I looked at housing the first thing I realized was it cost a lot more to live in D.C. than it does to live in Provo or Oregon! But the up side the jobs pay more out there so it equaled out. I applied for several government student jobs, including one at the library of congress. However, since I do not have a degree in library science I did not get that job. But I do have a dear friend who has taken a special interest in me who has some connections in Washington D.C. Through a line a people he got in contact with the director of the Children's National hospital out there who has a pediatric cancer unit. They offered me an internship, a place to live, and everything else I need to go out there. I am so grateful! I never imagined getting an internship that is so perfectly fitted to me. It is all I have ever wanted to do and more!
My main responsibility will be the be the ambassador for the summer for their
Some of the other responsibilities I will have bead program. This is a way for children to tell their story. Each patient will make a necklace with their name and throughout their journey they will receive different beads with different meanings. For example for surgery they receive a gray bead, a stem cell harvest is a dark green bead, and my favorite, radiation is a red glow in the dark bead. I love it! I am so excited for this opportunity to learn and to help them tell their story.
I have various other responsibilities that include helping families and patients during their stay with routine things. They also have a teen room where patients can hang out and need someone there to supervise to be able to have it open more often.
Having a wide variety of tasks will give me the opportunity to gain experience in all different age groups. I am so excited I can hardly stand it. I've been smiling since I found out. I could not have dreamed of a better opportunity. I know the Lord makes a way for things to happen if you are willing to follow the promptings. I can't wait to be out there and explore a whole new world! I will definitely not need my skills of gathering eggs and changing sprinkler pipe this summer because I'm moving to the big city!!

A Legacy

Since my topic for my talk at Women's Conference is a lot about passing on a legacy from heart to heart I've had it on my mind a lot lately. I have thought about the legacy that my parents are passing on to me and the legacy that I hope to pass on to my future family and the people around me. I hope I can leave a legacy of love, service and a desire to be better where ever I go and what ever I do.