Reunion Recap

Last week, we had my entire immediate family in town for a family reunion... good timing with my mom's condition, right? Anyway, we did a lot of fun things together for three days. Monday we went to Snowbird and had fun doing a small hike, alpine slide, zip line, and just being together.Zip line

The twins couldn't stay awake for anything!

Oh, those poor grandchildren were having such a hard time!

With Eliza on the Alpine Slide

Tuesday we headed up to Echo Resevoir for a day of boating. Wow, its been 5 years since I wakeboarded last, and it was totally obvious! I don't remember having so many rough falls in one day before.This was their first time on a boat

Again, its been 5 years. I know I look way too concentrated.

Wednesday we went to the pool, but I was so tired that I fell asleep before we left, and woke up about the time everyone came back. Oh well, I guess I didn't need to be more sunburned than I already was from boating the day before. Thankfully, I was careful about burning and it all tanned over in a couple days and never peeled! I love when that happens!

Well, after 3 wonderful days of relaxation, it was back to work, blah!

Clothing Stickers

Ya know when you buy new clothes, how there are always the hidden stickers with your size on it? Well, earlier this week I was at the Gateway picking up a dress for my niece. As I was riding up the escalator from the parking lot, I noticed that the guy in front of me still had the "36, 32" on the back of his new jeans. The best part about it was that he was on a date!
I wanted to take a picture with my phone, but I couldn't remember if it made a clicking sound when it took the picture and by the time I could have changed it, I was sure the couple would be gone. I've been thinking back to that moment all week and SO wishing I had a picture of it! Next time I will be sure to have the sound off on my phone camera.

Going Private

Uhgg, the inevitable has finally come to pass.

As I'm searching for new career paths and sending out resumes, I decided I prefer to have my personal life unsearchable. And while I changed the settings for my blog not to pull up when searching my name, I have friends who have linked to my blog from theirs using both my first and last name... and that still comes up in a search, totally defeating my purpose of not letting mine be googled.

So at last, I will be going private in a few days. I hate that phrase, and I've hated when other people do it. Unfortunately, it may be a little too open to let just anyone view my blog these days. I think I have most my friends' email addresses to invite you, but just in case post it after this blog and I'll delete the post after I get your email address. Love you all!

-Rach

4th Festivities

Last night, I went with a bunch of friends to see the fireworks in Murray Park. We were trying to meet up with some other friends, but couldn't find them and the fireworks were about to start. So somehow in a matter or minutes, we managed to find a great spot to watch them between trees and directly in front of the river. It was a new experience having the running water and the fireworks together. It was very refreshing!


One guy who was with us mentioned that he'd never sat so directly under fireworks and we all just laughed thinking that was funny. But when firework remnants began falling around us, we were all surprised! Thankfully, they were only little dust particles. One which was much larger fell right into the water in front of us... it was still even burning until it hit the water.

After the fabulous fireworks, we grabbed our swimsuits and got in Cammie's pool and hot tub. What a great ending to our nation's Independence Day.

Inspirations

I've had several things inspire me this last week. First, and most obvious, is the situation that now faces my family with the regrowth of my mother's brain tumor. I have seen my family turn to the Lord and grow together as well as each family member and their individual faith. It is great seeing my mother be so strong and know that regardless the outcome, we know the Lord has us in mind. It just amazes me.

My second inspiration came from the opportunity I had to attend the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards dinner last Friday night. This is a black tie event held at the Salt Palace, and a lot of prestigious people in Utah attend the event (along with a bunch who are not so prestigious, hence the reason we were able attend).

I got invited by Creed, who was invited by Ernst & Young to attend as a recruiting effort. They pretty much want him to sell his soul and work for them when he graduates.

This event felt somewhat like the Grammys of Entrepreneurship with the red carpet, formal attire, photographers roaming, the show host, entertainment, two notable people announcing the winner for each of the 14 categories, and who could forget the statue each winner received. It was purely awesome! So how was this inspiring for me? Many of you may already know, but for those who do not, I am an entrepreneur at heart. I have created or am working on about 3 different business ideas right now. Listening to the stories of each company that was a finalist for an award re-instilled my desire to work for myself. I do not have enough confidence, nor guts, to take the risk of starting one up right now and devoting all I own and all my time to one of them. Thankfully, one business idea can be started on the side so I can continue to bring in money while I grow that business. Starting your own business is a lot of work, but if it's successful it can be one of the most rewarding accomplishments!

Oligodendroglioma

In 1995, my sweet mother was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor called Oligodendroglioma. With the faith, prayers, and fasting of friends and family spanning the world, coupled with the skills of many physicians, my mother was able to beat the cancer and showed our family that miracles do still happen.

Unfortunately, this last week my mother was again diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor, most likely the same Oligodendroglioma. There is a 95% chance that it is the same, but that last 5% will not be confirmed until some of it is removed and tested.

It has been 13 years since she last fought the cancer, but it has been a beautiful 13 years. I was only 10 years old the last time so the memories are relatively vague. This go-around feels almost like a first time. It is a tough situation to face. Surprisingly, I am not angry and not asking why this had to happen. What is, is. At this point, we just have to turn our hearts to the Lord and trust that he will give us another miracle. I have to ask Him, what is next? And to give me the strength to move forward.

I admire my sweet mother so much for her strength and faith. She teaches me so much about life and about faith. I am praying for her and for the time we will continue to have when she beats this disease again!

This coming Sunday, July 6, our family and wards are going to fast on her behalf. I ask all of you who wish, to join in this fast and pray for my mother. Little miracles are already happening
(like the fact she got her routine MRI 4 months earlier than necessary, and that all my siblings were already planning to fly home this week for a scheduled family reunion), and with the faith and love of so many, she will have her miracle again!


If any of you wish to learn more about Oligodendroglioma, click here. This is a link from cancerbackup.org defining Oligodendroglioma, its symptoms, and types of treatments.

Delayed

Wow, the month is already half over! I can't believe that I haven't even written once yet. I'm such a slacker :)

So here's a few pics from what I've been doing.

June 6
Late night Dee's run with a bunch of friends
Brian, Missy, Racine, Kyle, Liz


Isaiah, Liz, Me, Brian, Missy


Austin had a hard time getting out of the booth so he decided to go under?!?!


What is a late night without Blue Steel?



Joe and Isaiah convince our server to bring extra cups of syrup to do syrup shots.
Do not try this as home...
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June 7
Box seats at the Real Salt Lake game!


With the Mascot, I don't even know his name! haha


We might have been high up, but we could see the action really well


With my date, Cameron