Haboob of June

A dust storm in AZ is called a Haboob. I was on my way to the Adult session of Stake Conference when I started driving in this! I could taste the dust. So gross! No wonder I have allergies! It is a sight to see, and I guess since I don't get any thunderstorms this will have to do.

Stake Conference was PERFECT for me this weekend. The theme was 2 Nephi 5: 27"And it came to pass that we lived after the manner of happiness." I will be the first to admit that I struggle with happiness. My life has not been easy (whose has) but it has been really hard for me to find moments of happiness. I know all the church answers and I get it, but this is my trial now--finding joy in the face of my trials. So-- I am going to try and follow my Stake President's counsel and write down 10 things I am grateful for each day. An attitude of gratitude.

This quote has also helped me this week, "The companionship of the spirit of the Lord is an antidote for weariness, … for fear and all those things that sometimes overtake us in life" (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: George Albert Smith Lesson 11) So, I am on a quest to make my life a little better-- or a lot better by really paying attention to the Spirit.

 This was the big news of my week: My Dad turned 65 at the beginning of the month and got to retire this past week! So, he bought my car--that he has been driving for the last year as I left it in TX when I moved to AZ--I have been driving a minivan or a SUV and I have HATED IT (because of gas prices and how much it takes to fill them up). It is a 2010 Ford Focus. It is SO NICE inside!!! I really do love it.

And I started at the Aji Spa. I am learning a lot. A little bit overwhelmed, but totally looking forward to being there. I get some sweet deals at all Sheraton/ Starwood resorts and hotels. I need to save and start TRAVELING!!!!

So, see-- I really do have much to be grateful for!

Work and Wedding

A few weeks ago I went to my Stake Employment Specialist to see if he could help me fine tune my resume and find a job. My resume was fine-- he said it was one of the best he had ever seen (and he sees a lot!) After talking awhile he said there was a guy in his ward that does something with spas-- he set up the Luxor spa in Vegas, but employment guy wasn't sure what spa guy was doing now. So after a few days I sent Mr. Bird my resume and asked if he could help me in any way. The Sheraton Wild Horse Pass is about 20 min. from my house. The Aji Spa is a 4 star spa. I had seen it from the outside a year ago and thought it would be fun to work for... Spa's can be kind of hard to get in with (was my understanding). Since I have only been a therapist for 2 years and have NO spa experience I wasn't sure I would even be looked at. I saw on-line that they were hiring a part-time therapist so I applied....and waited.
Mr Bird quickly responded to my email and said to fill out an application with Sheraton. I let him know I had and I was waiting to hear back. A day or so later I get  a call from the Lead Therapist. After talking to her I realize Mr. Bird is the Aji Spa DIRECTOR!!! I had a hands on practical with the Lead Therapist-- it went really well. She had 3 complaints that really weren't complaints, just how they do things there at the spa which I wouldn't have known. When we started she reminded me I needed to give her a $200 experience because that is what the guests expect. I was a little nervous about that, but I knew I just needed to do my best. The past few weeks I have had my regular clients telling me how good I have been--kind of a boost for me--to help me see I could do this.
About an hour after I left from the hands on Mr. Bird called me to come in and interview with him! I did that Thurs morning. It went really well too. Just a standard interview Sheraton does. He then called and left me a message on Fri that he wanted me to come in this coming Wed. to fill out new-hire paperwork!!! So, I don't know for sure what I will be paid or what my hours are but I think I will get full-time! This will allow me to get out of my sister's house and into one on my own! I will have to rent for a year or so, but that is ok! I am so excited!!! Church programs WORK!

Thurs I got to fly to Denver. I had so much fun seeing all of the Pavlovsky family. It had been too long! Amanda and Aaron looked so happy!!! The whole day was just perfect for them. I was so glad to be there to share with them. Now I am trying to figure out how to get to Steele's wedding...It's just a short drive to St. George!

I also got to see the Rife family (minus Josh). It was so good to see them and catch up. Janet has been in the hospital, so I went there before the wedding. I just love catching up with old friends!!!

Such a week full of blessings. Heart full of gratitude!

Suffering

I have had allergies for a few years now, but this past month has been AWFUL! I am so allergic to AZ. My Dr. said Maricopa has the worst air in the US. We are surrounded by cattle farms (Shamrock Farms anyone?) so there are 10 cows to every one person....and all the dust of the dessert, and the lovely flowering dessert plants. I have been miserable. My Dr. has me taking an allergy pill in the morning along with a nose spray...and an allergy pill in the evening (benadryl) I think I am a little too drugged. I can breathe, but serious sinus headaches...and I am so tired! I have been taking half a pill at night, and I am still tired!! I go back next week for a follow up. He will be upset that I am not doing a netipot nasal wash 3 times a day (too much!! and it was making me feel WORSE!) We'll see what he comes up with. Or maybe my body is telling me to move-- but where would I go that I am not allergic to? I am job hunting. I would really like to work for a resort spa-- most of those are in Scottsdale and at least an hour drive...is that really worth the effort? There is one about 20 min. from here and they have an opening, lets hope they like my resume! I am so excited to go to Colorado in 2 weeks! For a wedding!! So fun. Will love to catch up with longtime friends.

And the answer is:

I finally got an answer back about serving a mission. I was told no. Not given a reason why not, but no. I am of course a little sad about that because I think a mission would be amazing--and I still want to serve,but it will have to be when I am older. I know Heavenly Father knows best, so I am just going to have to figure out where He wants me. I can 1-stay in AZ, find a little house or apt. 2- move back to TX with my Dad or 3- move to Utah..or 4-- no idea what that would be. I know I need to find another job to help supplement massage so I may look into Sylvan Learning Center again. We'll see. My goal is to know what I am doing by June 1.

This picture makes me happy. This is the Kansas City, Kansas Temple! The dedication will be the first Sun in May. Growing up in Kansas I never would have thought this would happen. When I lived in McPherson we drove to Dallas (7 hrs)...when I moved back to KS we then had the Oklahoma City (4hrs) which was wonderful, and then when I lived in Topeka we had the Winter Quarters (4 hrs.) So now they have this! I think McPherson will still go to OKC. But look at the church GROW! YEAH!!!

Easter

Here are the Easter pics of my sister's family and then me. We had a good day today. Yesterday some neighborhood kids got to have an Easter egg hunt. We had breakfast. They really enjoyed it. That is why AZ is nice right now... 9:00 AM and a lovely day to be outside! We went to the Mesa Temple Easter Pageant. It was really good. I went from the Titanic disaster to the 1996 Mt. Everest disaster. I read Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer. It was REALLY good. When I was in college I remembered hearing about this (even though I was a SR. when this happened). I talked with an old roommate and she said we actually had a fireside with a survivor of this....wish I could remember, but I was going through a hard break-up at the time and just remember Everest seeming so scary to me. Anyhow, something triggered this memory of wanting to know more about what happened so I read the book. Again, so GOOD! I don't know what makes people want to climb mountains, but it fascinates me. I have a friend that is going to climb Denali in 5 weeks. I want him to take a video cam to watch it all!!! He is a photographer so I am sure I will see awesome pictures. Then I had to read Left for Dead by Beck Weathers to hear another version of this disaster. This guy was thought to be dead not once, but twice!!! And he survived. Amazing! What is my next disaster to read about? Or maybe another mountain climbing book. I heard from my Bishop this week. The head Mission Department has one more group to look at my "file" and THEN my mission request will be sent to the First Presidency...so I am still waiting. Getting tired of waiting, but the things in this life that are really worth anything are worth the wait!

Life

I got to see The Hunger Games this weekend. It really was well done. I hope that after all Stephanie Meyer went through with her books into movies that others have learned. I wasn't disappointed with this movie. I even liked the previews! The preview for Breaking Dawn 2 was ok. I could just hear my brothers voice in my head mocking it! ah well, I'll see it.
I am trying to find another book to read. I have read some about the Titanic. There is a National Geographic I want to get-- April for the 100 year anniversary of the sinking. Looks like there are some neat pictures in it.
I am looking forward to General Conference this weekend. It is always so good, and goes by so fast.
I have started playing Words with Friends and Draw Something. It is fun. I am a much better artist in my head... and I really struggle with just my phone as my screen. Ah well. It is fun.
A friend at work has a lemon tree. I have been making homemade lemonade. Seriously GOOD. Best Bites Cookbook -- such great recipes!
I am missing the blue bonnets of Texas. I am going to TX in May, but I know they will be gone. I am excited to get to go though! It will be good to see my Dad. And he will be retired. Somehow, I figure we will work on the house/pool. Then I get to go to Denver for a friend's wedding! Yeah!!

Utah in March

I got to have a great week in Utah. I left Wednesday morning and drove...and drove. I have a good friend in Blanding, UT so I stopped there for the night. Natani and I went to a Zumba class. It was so fun! I have done the videos so I wasn't sure what a live class would be like. It was a little more dance/aerobic than I thought, but I did recognize several Zumba moves. It was a lot of fun....good to be in a class where I was kept busy and push myself a little more. We had a fun night of catching up and being entertained by her 4 boys.
Thursday as I left I hit snow--until Moab. It was really coming down and the roads started to get more accumulation on them. But, once I was near Arches the snow stopped. Then I hit the final canyon by Price and it snowed until I came out of it in Spanish Fork. Thankfully the snow wasn't bad, and I got to use the new windshield wipers my bro-in-law put on for me!
I got to go to some stores that I had been wanting to: Heartfelt Wall Hangings-- they do home crafts that are SUPER cute. Then I went to The Wood Connection Craft store-- wood letters to do whatever..so FUN I am so excited to start some projects!
Fri was spent seeing friends and family! I got a massage, got my hair cut short..played games. It was fun. So glad I got to go.

That is the best picture I have of my new cut. I did not take many pictures... mostly because it confirms the fact that I have put on weight and I hate to see it. So, no pictures = no proof of that sad fact.
Saturday manicure and pedicure, Cafe Rio and BYU Men's Volleyball! It was FUN! We won! I was a little sad I didn't bump into any friends that are attending BYU, but that is ok. Perhaps if they had had warning...
Sun. the baby blessing was very nice too. Just love little ones. So sweet.
Monday--day with my brother's family. Good fun with games and food. Blue Lemon was tasty!
Tuesday a FULL day of driving. Thank goodness for books on CD.
I love roadtrips!