Praise Ye the Lord

This week at church it is our Vacation Bible School and I am in the nursery. I love babies and children of all ages and I love seeing all these kids come together for VBS. Even though we do not do any lessons or anything like that it is still fun to be with the church family and get close to everyone again. So far we have had 5 regular kids for the past two days and we play in the room, then we go listen to the opening ceremonies, do a little teeny tiny craft, get a snack, then go outside. We have so much fun that our time flies and we don't even realize it. I think that it is very healthy for children and all alike to have some sort of faith. When I was away at school (granted I only live a half hour from my local church) I did not attend church as often as I liked. Not because I couldn't make it or didn't want to, I just thought that I did not need the sevice because I prayed during the week. Little did I know that after having an extremely stressful month and attending a service one day, I realized that I still needed to go to church because it just made me feel good and I felt different after attending church. No matter what faith you are baptized as, it is okay to attend a church of a different faith. For me, I was baptized Catholic, but attend a Methodist church. I am not sure if I will stay Catholic or not but for now I think that it is important that I have a faith and believe in my faith.

Great Accomplishment

So today, I finally did it! I finished my t-shirt quilt. This has been a two year process in the making and I when I say two years, I mean I started then left it and was going to do it last summer and never got to it and finally this summer I was sick of looking at the squares that I had cut so I did it. I worked 10 hours straight on this quilt and even though it is not perfect, it is perfect to me. I had three minor setbacks but nothing got my spirits down. I will say that it is still 99.99% finished. I still need to add a few stitches here and there but it is usable and I am so proud of myself. It has been on my summer to do list for two years straight and I finally get to mark it off my list. I will also say, that I will probably never do it again. It was a lot of work and at times frustrating but I am not a sewer and do not work with the sewing machine enough to do it again. I hope you enjoy the picture, because I am so proud!

Do your Homework

So with my previous post you guys obviously understand that I am an advocate for autism. With the latest buzz about Mike Savage and his talk radio and what he stated on there about autism I have been to hurt to write or even talk about it. I know that it was not a personal attack on me but I feel that even though he is now apologizing for attacking children he was attacking anyone advocating for autism. Children who are autistic personally do not realize the kind of attack that was put on them. I love Google and looking things up so today on my break I was looking at some articles discussing Savage's talk show and some of the people's comments. What really surprised me was all the ridicule not only against Savage but also the medical world. People who are dissing ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorders). They are saying how can there be mild forms of autism and other notions like that. And I also understand that autism is really hard to diagnose especially since there is no written documentation stating what classifies autism and what doesn't. However, if you are going to talk down about something do some research first. ASD is an umbrella that has many disorders underneath it. Along with Autism these include anything from Rett Syndrome, PPD-NOS, and Asperger's Syndrome. If you researched these you would find these are true disorders that since they are so similar to autism they fall underneath this umbrella. I do not have a child who has autism but I see first hand what it does to a family and to the child itself. And if you really did research on autism and all the different side affects you would too probably be advocating for it. Each case is unique and different in their own ways and many times some side effects will go away and new harsher or lighter ones will appear. Even though there is no cure right now for autism, by getting help from OT's , PT's, and SLP's there can be a future for children. So to you people who make fun of a mild form think for a second. Every parent's goal for a child that has severe autism is a mild form or even an Asperger's diagnosis. But it still takes a lot of work. Right now the child I know is a mild form (in my opinion) which means that she is able to communicate whether it be to close friends and family only or to complete strangers. She no longer has meltdowns (which is something considering she used to have over 10 a day and each lasted over 5 minutes long). She is mild and our goal for her is an Asperger's Diagnosis. Many people with Asperger's are able to live on their own and function almost "normal." Those with mild forms can either become Asperger's or severe again. So think before you start judging the medical world.

Autism or Something Like It

So a little girl that I baby-sit for and have known now for over 4 and 1/2 years is autistic and I help her family out by doing ABA therapy sessions with her on Sunday's or when I can. She is so much fun and I feel like I am a part of the family especially since I have known her and her twin sister (I took that one to the zoo yesterday :)) since they were 17 months. I was with them when we heard the autism diagnosis and I have been involved with her family and researching everything we possibly could about autism. Last year while babysitting we started ABA which stands for Applied Behavior Analysis. This technique has worked really well with her and she has improved so much from last year. Everytime I am over there and she does something new is so thrilling to me. Which is why after working with her and her family and dealing with the autism for the past 3 and 1/2 years I have decided to become an Occupational Therapist. I love children and have always wanted to do something with kids, growing up I wanted to be a teacher and now after working with the girl I watch I ahve decided that OT is the way for me to go. I like seeing children progress and grow through fun and learning. I now have two more years of undergrad and two and a half to three years of grad, I know that it will be a tough ride but I am excited to do it and am looking forward to the road ahead.

The ZOO!!!

So today was one of my favorite days for the summer. I took a girl that I baby-sit for to the zoo and even though the temperature and humidity were against us, we had a great time. I love the zoo and if I could go every day I prolly would. The girl I took loved the carousel so we rode it a couple of times. I don't know about your zoo but our zoo is ever changing and they are either remodeling or adding new animals all the time. This summer our zoo put in a huge water park to go with it so the lines were a little longer, and the walk from the parking lot to the entrance was as well but once seeing the animals it makes up for all that. I am also one that when I go to the zoo, I have to see everything. This time however, due the the heat and the tiredness of my 5 and 1/2 year old girl we did not see exactly everything or at least she didn't. :) This is only the second time she has been to the zoo and my one hundredth so while running errands before going we stopped and got a couple of books from the library about some of the animals she would see. She is also learning how to spell and write so she made a list of a all the animals we wanted to see. Even though the list was four animals long we still had a good time. One of her biggest things was that she thought they could get her so she was scared at first. Once she realized that they could not get out of their cages she relaxed a little more. She is also not one that likes the outdoors or the heat of the summer for that matter so for her to survive the day made me very proud. Plus I spoiled her, chocolate ice cream, all the rides at the zoo, food court food (not picnic) and at the end of the day she got a toy from the gift shop. On our way home I half expected her to fall asleep rather she played with the stuffed animal we got for her from this visit. This trip not only made me realize how lucky I am to have this life but makes me excited for when I have my own kids to take to the zoo myself. Our next visit to the zoo is already scheduled. We are going to go in November when the polar bears come and we cannot wait!

Book Review- Sundays at Tiffany's

So I love James Patterson and my favorite book by him so far is Suzanne's Diary to Nicholas. When I saw that he had written another book that looked lovey dovey, I had to read it and I did. I will say that it was not as good at my favorite but all in all it was very good. I think this book gives the story of hope and reasons as to why we as humans come in and out of peoples lives. It also tells us to take time for us and spend our "mad money" however we choose. For you that do not know what "mad money" is, it is cash that you spend on anything you want and feel guilt free about it. My grandmother sometimes give me "mad money" and it is a lot of fun to do that. The main character in the book is a woman who's mother is a producer for broadway shows and she is very prestigious. The daughter lives in her mother's shadows all her life, as a young girl, the daughter has an imaginary friend. Who at the age of 9 must leave her. She thinks about the man for the rest of her life when all the sudden he reappears and changes her and her mother's life. I was half expecting something really sappy to come especially after reading Suzanne's Diary, but nothing sappy just a storybook romance and hope. I suggest that you read it, it is a page turner like all his books. I give the book 4 out of 5 stars.

Beauty Tip

So I love beauty and tips to keep my makeup healthy. I had always heard of cleaning makeup brushes but I had never actually done it. Well I decided about a month ago that I wanted to do it so I went to one of my favorite websites eHow.com and looked it up. Chose the instructions I thought were best and then put it off for another three weeks. Well I did it today and let me tell you, I will be cleaning my brushes weekly. After watching all the colors run off on some brushes I had not used in a while, I was completely disgusted. I am someone who does not share anything that I use, but to see what I was using over and over again and how "dirty" they were really grossed me out. I encourage you if you have never cleaned your makeup brushes to do it. I have included the instructions I chose and the link to the website where I found them and it really really works!

Materials Needed:
makeup brushes
1 hand towel
baby shampoo
bathroom sink

Take 1st makeup brush and completely wet it at the sink. Make sure the water penetrates all the way to the core of the brush bristles. Pour a drop of baby shampoo into the palm of your hand. Lather up the bristles of the makeup brush with the shampoo like you would your hair. Keep rubbing the shampoo into the bristles of the makeup brush for 1 minutes. Rinse the makeup brush thoroughly to get rid of the shampoo. Keep rinsing till the water runs clear. Lay brush on towel on a flat surface and let dry for at least 2 hours.

http://www.ehow.com/how_2311087_clean-up-brushes-baby-shampoo.html

Mille Borne

When I graduated from High School in 2006, I received all kinds of gifts and one in paticular. It is a card game called Mille Borne and my sisters and I attempted to play it about a year ago, however we gave up and I put it up with the rest of the games in our basement. This past summer when I moved back from college I went through the games again and came upon this game. Well if you are looking for a game that is strategic and fun. This is the game, after figuring out all the rules my sisters and I get absorbed in it because not only is it fun, but strategy has to be involved. Since my sisters and I are very competitive this game is perfect and fun. My younger sister, Cait loves this game because so far it is the only one that she can beat me at, however I think I am going to beat her soon. :)

Another Year Older

About a week ago I celebrated a milestone. I was able to purchase my first legal drink all by myself!!! Many people when finding out that it was my birthday wished me a happy one and then told me that now it is all down hill from here. I don't understand that though, I turned 21 not 80. Techinically we are dying every single day we are alive, I understand that there is no other significant birthday for me to celebrate to me a birthday is not another milestone or another year older for me, it tells me that I have survived. Regardless of the difficulties that I have faces or the joys that have been given to me, I have survived and had a great year. So if today is your birthday or whenever it is. Happy Birthday!!! It is a great day, look at your past year and the accomplishments that have come with it. I met all kinds of new people, I survived my second year of college, I grew up I dealt with grief, I raised money for awareness, and my biggest accomplishment (maybe not to some people) but I ran a mile! That is huge for me considering me and running are polar opposites.

What would you be?

When I was in high school, I attended a private Catholic school where my sisters now attend. When attending a Catholic High School, you are required as curriculum to take a Religion class. Well this past year my sister was a freshman at our high school and one of the assignments in her theology class was very interesting to me and I wanted to journal about it as well. She had to write a paper and discuss if you would either choose to be a rose or a dandelion and other unique things. So this is my attempt at her theology assignment:I think I am more like a Volkswagen than a Cadillac because I like chic and things with straight lines. Cadillacs are too big and I like small things (I wonder if this is because I am 5'2") I also am more like Volkswagen because I am still young and Cadillacs to me are for the more older crowds. I think I am more like a swimmer than a football player, because even though I love to watch football and know what is going on, I like water and quiet. Football is too loud and swimming is quiet and peaceful. I also feel more like a swimmer because I am independent and do not like a lot of group things. I think I am more of a symphony than a rock song because again, I am not loud and I like the quiet. I also am like symphonies because I can be calm when needed and rough when needed as well. Even though I like being quiet, I feel like I am more of a waterfall then of a quiet brook, because I have to constantly be moving and doing things. I like to be a busy body and it is hard for me to sit still and relax. I am more like a rose then a dandelion because I love deep colors and just like a rose with thorns, I have a wall up around me so that I do not get hurt, but once you get past those thorns/walls you see beauty. I think I am more like a sunset than a sunrise because I cannot stand mornings and like to go out at night whether to party or just to look at the sky. I think I am more like a lamb then a lion because of the fact that I am quiet and calm. To me a lion is a rambunctious person and loud and that is not me at all. I am more of a period than a question mark because if I have a question I find an answer so I can turn it into a period statement. I also think that periods are leaders because they do not need anything to follow them so they are independent and can stand alone, like me. I think I am more of a valley than a mountain because of my height, as well as I like to fill up with all kinds of information like a valley does with water. I am more of a host than a guest because I like to run things and make sure they go smooth; I like to be in charge so if anything goes wrong I will be able to come up with a solution to fix it. I am more of an eagle than a duck because I always make sure I represent myself as best as I can and I like to be a leader. I am more like a movie star than a politician because I do not like to deal with political issues, I can step up and be a leader but I would rather have some one else do the political side then me.

How many will be affected?

So today I found out that a former teacher of mine passed away from breast cancer. She had been battling for the past couple of years now and the battle if finally over. With the death of my teacher and a couple of things that have happened to me this past week, I have realized how many people are affected by death. Since it is the summer time and I am not at school I go and do one of my favorite things, watch baseball. A really good friend of mine is an Athletic Trainer for the summer team and when I am on my way to the game or I am heading home after the game she always tells me to be careful. I don't know how many times my family, relatives, or friends tell me to be careful, but I never really take it to heart.One night on my drive home (about a half hour from the ballpark), I was thinking about this and if I were to pass away or anyone pass away how many people would be affected. Not just immediate family, but people who's lives I or anyone else have touched. My teacher was a great person and she touched my life immensely. She was never my homeroom teacher but she was the women who taught me everything about English and she also taught me how be confident in myself when talking to people in higher power then me. I will forever miss her, but when thinking about the upcoming funeral and calling hours I wonder how many people will pay respects. However, after getting through calling my friends and telling them of the sad news, I received a text from one discussing how she will be missed, loved, and never forgotten. It just goes to show 1. how quickly word gets around these days and 2. how she affected people. Below is a quote that I found on the Internet that holds true to my teacher and how everyone should remember her.

“You can shed tears that she is gone,

Or you can smile because she has lived.

You can close your eyes and pray that she’ll come back,

Or you can open your eyes and see all she’s left.

Your heart can be empty because you can’t see her,

Or you can be full of the love you shared.

You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday,

Or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.

You can remember her only that she is gone,

Or you can cherish her memory and let it live on.

You can cry and close your mind,Be empty and turn your back,

Or you can do what she’d want:

Smile, open your eyes, love, and go on.”

Fireworks :) Valentine's ;) Costumes >:)

So many people think I am unusual when it comes to my favorite holidays. However a lot of times once they hear my reasoning they understand. If you could not figure them out according to the title my top three in order are Halloween, Valentine's Day, and the 4th of July. Why might you ask that it is not Thanksgiving or Christmas or even Easter. Well...Halloween is my all time favorite because I love dressing up in costumes and have since I was little. Taking dance classes for over 16 years helped me achieve that but not that i am no longer dancing I love to dress up in different characters. Another reason that I love Halloween is to see every one's creativity. I think I am a very creative person and I think it is really interesting when I see what people can come up with either on their own or with some help. Halloween is so much fun because you get to be something you have always dreamed of. Think back when you were younger, what was one thing that you always played? Barbie's, Pirates, or Dinosaurs? Well on Halloween you get to relive that memory. Plus an additional perk is free candy for good manners :) My second favorite Holiday is Valentine's Day, many say its because it has my favorite colors pink and red, however I grew to love Valentine's Day through my first job. I worked at Hallmark for four Valentine's Day Holidays and it was so much fun seeing all the cool presents we had to offer men when they came in 20 minutes before close to get their wife's gifts. I also like it because even though we tell our loved ones we love them every day, it is one day that is set aside to make sure that you do that. Plus being a child at heart, I still love making cookies, buying silly valentines, and making valentine boxes ;) My last favorite holiday is July 4th. These reasons are very simple 1. It tells me, my birthday is only six days away and 2. I LOVE FIREWORKS! every year I try to see as many fireworks shows as possible because I think they are so fun. Yes sometimes they are loud and sometimes they are not as good as before, but you only get to see them once a year (at least where I am from) so I try to make it worthwhile and lasting by seeing as many shows as possible. p.s. Happy 4th of July!

My Small Things

I had a very rough day today and even though I got up at 8:15 in the morning, it did not turn rough until 5 pm-ish. I went to work as usual and noticed that I was not working as hard as I normally do but did not really care, I only had to mail some recruitment letters and then make new tabs for file folders! (My life is extremely exciting by the way.) After work I was taking a girl that I baby-sit for to dance to help out her mom. I got to the house and that is when things started to turn sour. I showed up right on time and when I found out she wasn't ready things got semi-stressful because some how she lost her shoes and still had to put her leotard on and I had to figure out a way to get her there on the one gallon of gas I had left in my car. Terrified that we were going to be late and run out of gas I got her there on time and planned how I was going to find a bank that would accept my card without charging me so I could get money well, my day brightened when on our way home a local grocer had my bank and they had gas! I was extremely excited. Even though my day did get a little worse I decided not to complain too much because I have had worser days. Just because I did not get to do what I wanted to doesn't mean it was a bad day at all. The reason is because of all the small things that happened to me today. The first thing that happened was that my dad and I had a small e-mail convo and it was nice, nothing serious, he just answered a question for me. The second thing that happened to me was when I was with the girl I baby-sit for. I use to watch her and her twin sister during the summer, however this summer I am not doing that and I still cannot decide if that was a good or bad choice. I really miss them a lot and they miss me too and they always love to see me, as do I for them. So we are driving in the car on our way home, just chatting about anything and everything. She is really nervous because her recital is this coming weekend and it is her very first one ever. When we get to her house I eat dinner with them and then head out to finish off my day. However before I leave I get the hugs and the kisses and then the when are you coming back. That is what makes me smile because even though I am not a part of their family, they make me feel that way and I love them like they are my neices. I tell her when I will return and we smile get more kisses and hugs and I leave. She is one person in my life that when I think about can make me smile, even on really sad day. The next small thing that happened to me was as I was driving to see my g'ma (this is my great-grandmother) my aunt calls me and tells me a quirky little fact that she knew I would enjoy and I did! She did not have to tell because it is kind of a meaningless fact but she knew that I would appreciate it very much and I did. So whether or not your day is going bad, look at the small things that happen during the day and see why they happened. My schedule for the day was busy: work, run to dance, into town to see g'ma, baseball game but I was not able to go to the baseball game because I got stuck (using loosely) at my g'mas and was unable to go. But that was a small thing because it was telling me to slow down and relax. I live a very very busy life, and I am a people pleaser so I tell everyone yes and I mean yes to everyone. The past two years I have been able to say no, however this summer that is not the case and I feel like I am running around with my head cut off most of the time. But the small things make me calm and relaxed and help me look forward for the next day to come. So whatever your small thing is during your day, enjoy it. :)

What's That Smell?

As I was going through my day today I was wondering what I was going to talk about...there are many things that I want to jot down and I could decide until I got into my car after I got done volunteering. I was just halfway through my day after going to work from 9-4 and volunteering till 6, I was finishing it up with a baseball game and seeing a couple of friends. As I was leaving from volunteering, I was chilled so I turned my heat on in the car. I know June 25th in Ohio and I have my heat on. However if you are from Ohio especially central then you understand that having the heat and the air on whether in a car or a home is very normal during any day of the year. So I am sitting in traffic with my heat on when this smell hit me. It wasn't a bad smell it was a memorable smell. It is one of the smells that makes you wish for what it is reminding you of. This smell, in particular, reminds me of my high schools days (even though not that long ago) and football games in September. My friends and I would park at our High School and would walk to the game about a mile away. It was during fall so where it was hot during the day but cool at night. After the games were over, we would walk back with the team and jump into the car and turn the heat on. Then we would head over to the fast food restaraunt and get some ice cream all while giggling and having a good time. Have you ever thought about a smell that can take you anywhere in a moment's notice? There are a ton of smells I have that will instantly remind me of something. My car's heat always reminds me of fall and I can't wait for it to arrive. Then there is the smell of my old shampoo that brings me summer days when we would spend them at the pool. My great-grandmother's house always brings back great memories.I find it very interesting how our sense of smell is so powerful. Not many people realized that all of our senses are connected to our body and they work together. This is an example of it happening. Think back on the last scent that reminded you of something, whether a favorite childhood food or the summer that you went to the beach. The gift of smell is so powerful, yet taken for granted so much. No one realizes how much we and our bodies use smell, to feel, to show emotion, and to remember.