To Who I Am Becoming...

There are a few moments (a very few) in life that God gives you, when everything in life is good. It is a rarity and we must always be on the lookout for these moments so that they do not pass us by. I was sitting on the train this morning reflecting on the Weekend of Miracles (as it will forever be referred). I was able to arrange a flight down south to visit my family. I had sworn off the sardine like metal coffin we car airplanes after travailing for 25 hours from Hong Kong (and not being able to sleep the whole way) but apparently I had not had enough. When I got out of customs I was greeted by six of my favorite people in the whole world. My cousin, her blessed angels for children, my aunt, and my mother. I was so excited when I saw the blond enthusiastic face of the oldest child that my heart nearly stopped when I saw her sister and brother next. I could have been happy then but there was more to come. After they left my mother let me drive us both home (it felt good to drive Ame...

So I just set my dad up on Facebook. He was the last of his family to get on but he finally did it because I showed him my pictures on my page and he asked "How do I see those when you are not here?" I t0ld him what he would need to do to see my stuff and so he had me set it up. I love my dad who will do something that seems stupid to him because I want him to and he loves me!

While reading for one of my classes ( I know, un usual isn't it. ) I read an article about working with primary age students. This lead my brain to think of friends ( in the most abstract for m ) at the daycare that I worked. Because my brain switches gears quickly it lead me to think about my friends that went through the Elementary Education Program with me ( most of us graduated with our dignity and sanity intact, the jury's still out on me ). This caused a flood of memories that wer e sparked by blogs and yearbooks of this amazing group. I know that I would not be the person you see today ( this is were you have a pleasing picture of me in your head, STOP LAUGHING! ). Here are some memories to remember.

FAITH: A PRINCIPLE OF ACTION “Now faith is the substance (assurance) of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11, first verse. I thought about that last night at 11:30 when I decided that it would be a good time for me to write my talk. After searching for inspiration by studying dance moves in the movie hitch I decided to try another tactic so I went for a long walk and listened to Barbra Streisand and found inspiration. I came home and started to read the first article in The Lectures on Faith and found what I was looking for. In response to the quote I just gave it says, “From this we learn that faith is the assurance which men have of the existence of things which they have not seen, and the principle of action in all intelligent beings.” It was this second part that caught my attention. To think of faith not as something simply done or not done within the confines of our own minds, spirits, and bodies but as an action, a visible and physical act t...

Today I woke up and was able to get lots of work done. I was able to run and not get weary, walk and not get tired. I was not able to get everything done on my list but I was able to get more things done then I have been able to for a long time. At the end of the day I had a meeting for my church calling and instead of it being something to add on top of all of the stress it was something that calmed me and made all of the other work seem easy and worth it. These are the things I am thankful for.

This is so that I can remember and so that everyone can join in my fun. Who: Chris ( no last name for protection ) When: Wednesday October 13, 2010 - Friday October 15, 2010 Where: His house and Stake Center What: Bishop's Ball Dance Why: I have no idea... but no ones complaining. Story: I had just meet with the bishop who among other things asked me if I was going to go to the Bishop's Ball. I said "I wasn't planning on it. No one has asked me." To which he said "Well, expect one." I thought this was a long shot because I have never been asked out on a date and I was hopping that this bishop wasn't the kind to play matchmaker. (p.s. he didn't and isn't, thank goodness). Well later that night I was just getting ready for bed and my phone rang. I nearly jumped out of my skin because no one has called me in forever and I keep forgetting that people have my number up here. Chris had a hard time getting out the que...

The clock ticks closer to 2:30. I sit across the room enjoying the softness of the couch cousins before my work begins. I start working in my head all the things I know about the subject of fractions and making lists of the ways that I can convey the information in my head to another person. After a few minuets I decide that I can’t work out anything good so I give up and decide I will just try to flow with my student and react to what she needs both in the moment and long term. I hear a far away door swing, feet clomping, and strange silence. This is strange because usually the voice hits before the other sounds but today there is nothing. Solemnly my little friend walks into the room and lays down her backpack without taking out her customary fractions homework assignment. I frown thinking about how I will have to insist and convince my friend that she can do the work and have her reluctantly retrieve her work page. I don’t want to have this “fight”. She comes and sits down next t...

I am twelve all over again. That excited and yet scared feeling you get that makes you want to jump around the room and at the same time run away from the room because it is not a place for you, a kid. I am walking into a meeting quietly behind my mother. My mother is nowhere in the room and I am not twelve but I flash back to those times when I would go with my mother to a meeting where everyone was glad to see me but knew I was just a living ornament for my mother to show off. I know that this group does not feel that way about me but it doesn't matter because I feel that way. My Good Friend introduces me to the group warmly and everyone says hello to me but no sound escapes my lips, only a small smile and nod. We begin and I start to feel more at ease because I know a little about what is being talked about but still distant because I don't know what my role is yet in that dialog. The meeting ends faster and slower than I feel it should. Some of the people chat with me and s...

This summer has been so much fun. After having the last year suck so much that I thought about committing a crime just so I could be taken out of it. I was so excited to be able to go to Hong Kong with some friends of mine. I spent a whole summer traveling, reading lots of books, eating new things, and just having lots of fun. When I came back I had to run around and get ready to movie again to Canada. I have loved to see all of my friends and family. It has been fun to travel and I know the next few years will be fun as well.

I just got my invitation for Stephanie's Graduation. I am so proud of my friend! Congratulations! I am going to go down to St. George in a week and celebrate with my friends.

This weekend I went to St. George to hand with my friends. My cousin was also having a baby shower. It was so much fun and so full of food. I swear that I came back with a whole other person of food in me. I want to give a shout out to all of my friends that I saw and to the cosmos that provided the excitement.

Yes it is true. I have joined Facebook. I don't know why but I just got board and decided to do it to see what would happen. Also my ward is putting most if not all of their info on Facebook and so I am giving in. Strange I know.

Okay, I have been stressing out over whether or not to go to Massachusetts for grad school. Well I went to talk to a friend of my parents to ask her what was a good way to go and here is what I got out of my meeting with her. I am NOT going to Mass. This is a good thing! I have a new plan now and I think it will be much better. I am going to wait a year and (1) get a job in a treatment facility or at a mental hospital, (2) I might go and get my Special Ed. endorsement, (3) Save my money, (4) I am going to apply to new schools. The most expensive school will be 10,000 a year but that is still 15,000 cheaper than going to Massachusetts. These are the schools that I am going to apply at: I am excited to start this new course. P.S. Also just you that you know who want to, my Best Friend Andrew and I are no longer friends. He has made decisions that I just can't be apart of but I am doing Okay (see above post). P.S.S. Also I am now on TWITTER! Weird I know but if you want to hear all...

If I were a city I think I would look a lot like this. The Airport. A good sign. Check out the brick sidewalk. These streets remind me of England. They are so narrow. The Dorms!!! The building on the right is were church is held while the real building is under construction. I am so happy that these flowers almost made me giggle. The outfit for success. The Divinity School This is were I had my interview and were my department is located. Awesome!!!! My hair started out straight. On my way home to Utah. Oh and by the way... I GOT IN!!!!!!

Well I hoped it would happen and it finaly did. JFK University and Lesley University contacted me to set up interviews. I am going of to California on Friday and going out to Massachusetts next Tuesday and Wednesday. I am so excited. I don't know what will happen but it will be an adventure.

OK. So more on the ways I am trying to move into a better ELIZA. My mom and I have been trying (like the rest of humanity) to lose some weight. I have not had a "real" job and so I have some time on my hands. We went to talk to our doctor and he put us on a drug called phentermine . We went on it right before Halloween. The loss has been small in number but big in success. I can say with pride that I have lost 30 lbs. I have been able to through away so many clothes because they just don't fit anymore. It has been amazing. I hope it continues. It doesn't seem like much when you do the math but if it means that I can seem normal, happy, and not look like a deflated old balloon when I'm done then I am all for it.

"Days of Eliza's Lives" has been in full force. Just when things look like they are going to be a certain way, the ultimate joker changes everything. One thing that has changed is that I am now in the process of getting into graduate school. I have applied to four places, BYU (because of family), Argosy University in SLC, John F. Kennedy University in Pleasant Hill CA, and Lesley University in Cambridge MASS. The only school I have heard back from is BYU and they rejected me. No worries though I am still moving forward. I have applied for some new jobs that pay me more than 8.50 like at the daycare. Two teaching positions in 3rd and 5th grade, and several executive assistant jobs. Things are tough but I am looking at any move and one in a good position. Finally I have the biggest announcement of all. I AM READY TO DATE!!! I have always been leze fare about dating but recent events have encouraged me to go full force. I am not saying no to any option. Things still resem...