Thanksgiving 2010

Thanksgiving this year was so fantastic. For the first time in my life, it was just my immeadiate family. I missed getting together with some of my distant relatives that I don't get to see very often, but this year, I really think this was what we needed. My older brother who lives in Salt Lake came down and stayed all week. I got to spend lots of time with him which meant a lot because I won't get to see him again until Christmas. Food, and family. Definently can't get any better than that.

My personal favorite part of Thanksgiving.... PIES of course!




My mom and I made so much pie! It was fantastic!

And my first plateful....DELICIOUS!! Pretty sure I gained about 20 pounds over the weekend...



This Thanksgiving was also a very emotional one. It was our first Thanksgiving without my Grandpa Grundvig and my Grandma was sick so she was unable to join us which made it that much harder. But really, it made me all the more thankful for the family I was able to spend time with. Especially my older brother. He's my best friend and I have a really hard time not being able to see him very often. It's so funny, you would think that a brother and sister 6 years apart wouldn't have much in common or have reason to fight. Daron and I constantly fought as children and we still tend to tease, but we're super close, especially since neither of us live at home anymore, which I am so grateful for.

I cannot believe how quickly this year has flown. I'm so grateful for all my blessings and the opportunity I had to share this holiday with the people I love the most.

Breaking Point

The questions of the week:

• Why do some people get such joy out of watching others suffer?
• Why can't we all just get along?
• Where do we draw the line and say we won't tolerate anymore?
• Why must we sometimes forsake our own gentle nature in self defense?
• Why do we try so hard to fit in with people who we should fit so well with?
• What do we have to do to get the point across that enough is enough?

I'm so tired of people who have no other other desire in life than to make things unnecissarly harder for other people, who are back stabbers, who are fake and who lie. I'm so tired of having to see selfish people neglect others who depend on them simply because they are lazy and do nothing but complain. Unfortunately I understand that no matter where I go or what I do there are going to be people like that. Someone has to ruin it for the whole group.

But there are also those people who are loving, kind and want nothing more than to give. Some people lift the whole group.

You're Still an Innocent

"Innocent" by Taylor Swift

I guess you really did it this time
Left yourself in your warpath
Lost your balance on a tightrope
Lost your mind tryin' to get it back

Wasn't it easier in your lunchbox days?
Always a bigger bed to crawl into
Wasn't it beautiful when you believed in everything
And everybody believed in you?

It's all right, just wait and see,
Your string of lights is still bright to me
Oh, who you are is not where you've been.
You're still an innocent,
You're still an innocent.

There's some things you can't speak of
But at night you'll live it all again
You wouldn't be shattered on the floor now
If only you would sing what you know now then

Wasn't it easier in your firefly-catchin' days?
And everything out of reach, someone bigger brought down to you
Wasn't it beautiful runnin' wild 'til you fell asleep
Before the monsters caught up to you?

It's all right, just wait and see
Your string of lights is still bright to me
Oh, who you are is not where you've been
You're still an innocent
It's okay, life is a tough crowd
32, and still growin' up now
Who you are is not what you did.
You're still an innocent.

Time turns flames to embers
You'll have new Septembers
Every one of us has messed up too
Lives change like the weather
I hope you remember
Today is never too late to be brand new

It's all right, just wait and see
Your string of lights are still bright to me
Oh, who you are is not where you've been
You're still an innocent.
It's okay, life is a tough crowd
32, and still growin' up now
Who you are is not what you did
You're still an innocent.
You're still an innocent.

Lost your balance on a tightrope.
It's never too late to get it back.

The lines that stand out the most to me are "Lives change like the weather, I hope you remember today is never too late to be brand new."

So true.

The Beauty of Music

Last night I had the wonderful opportunity to participate in my 8th consecutive performance with the Eastern Utah Wind Symphony. The performance was successful, was well-loved by the audience and I felt fully accomplished. I love being part of such a diverse and talented group of musicians that ranges from professionals to students. We work under an amazing conductor, Dr. Greg Benson, who never fails to impress. I am proud to call myself a band geek!


I am so thankful for my opportunities to further my musical knowledge while keeping my skills well polished and well rounded. Not only instrumental music, but all the performing arts are by far my favorite thing in the world. I'm constantly being awed, inspired, changed, and emotionally moved by participating in, and watching the arts. I love it with all my heart and I thank Heavenly Father every day for the talents and opportunites I have been given and that I have this great gift in my life. Music makes me feel more alive than I am capable of feeling any other time. I cannot put into words the love and passion I have for music.

In honor of our Veterans

Today is Veteran's day and my heart is very full. Both of my grandfathers served our country, my Grandpa Nelson served in the Army in the Korean War and my Grandpa Grundvig served in the Navy during World War II. I salute those who have the honor and courage to risk their lives for our country to preserve the freedoms that we all as United States citizens enjoy today. Love a Veteran and support our troops!

For wind symphony this sememster we are playing a song called "American Heroes" as part of our concert. I cannot help but tear up everytime I hear "Anchors Away." My grandpa, H. Levon Grundvig served in the Navy in WWII. Not only was he an American Hero, he was my hero and so beloved not only by my family, but everyone he knew. He touched so many lives and I miss him so much. Today it has been four months since he left this mortal life and it has not gotten any easier. My heart still aches and I wish more than anything I could hug him one more time. Thank goodness for the gospel and eternal families.

First post of November!

A new month has begun and I cannot believe that it is the second to last month of the year. Where has 2010 gone?? I don't know, discussing this year will be for another blog post. For now, I just need to vent. Work has been awful lately. I have not enjoyed going to work at all, administration is picking us apart for small mishaps and I'm really sick of feeling picked on. Contrary to popular belief, I'm not stupid and I do care about my job, what I do, and I try my best. But I'm human. I make mistakes. Especially when I've been doing the same thing for as long as I have. Also, I hate working full time. If I wasn't in school, wouldn't be half so bad, but I have no social life, no time for homework, I feel like no time for myself and my family. Not fun. Work blows, but I have made the choice to be a responsible adult, to make my own living, to take care of myself and to be independent. Every choice has consequences and this was my choice. Now I'm dealing with those consequences and should probably stop complaining. My poor brother has been unemployed for who knows how long and I have a great, steady, decent paying job that I usually enjoy doing. Shut up, Farrah. Just shut up.
Next item on the venting/thinking agenda. I met up with an old friend this past week who I had had a very unfortunate falling out with. We patched things up and it was absolutely fantastic. Of course we are nowhere near to what we were, but all the hurt is behind us, we're starting new and there is no more awkwardness! Yes! It felt so good, just to rid of the burden of wondering why we couldn't just work things out is gone and I've tasted sweet forgiveness. Given and recieved. (And I thought I never held a grudge...)
Speaking of friends (or my lack thereof at the moment...) I've kept feeling like I'm losing one of my most beloved friends. It feels like there is a distance between us that is slowly growing. I've spent hours upon hours trying to figure out what could be creating it, fueling it, causing it to grow and I could never put my finger on it. I kept thinking that they were just getting tired of me being around, they were distancing themselves because I was too needy, too outspoken, too selfish, too something. But it hit me like a ton of bricks a yesterday. When I was having one of my deep thinking moments (happens alot when you can't sleep...) I realized that some of my own foolish choices have created the chasm there. I've never been one to step out of my shell, my comfort zone, by myself, whatever. I've always needed the comfort of someone I knew to come with me to the party, be in the class with me, boost my confidence. Well, I've been following the wrong crowd, knowing good and well, it was going to get me into trouble one day. Because now I'm really out of my comfort zone. I'm standing out in the middle of nowhere all by myself wondering why (not how) the heck I'm there. I know full good and well how I got there, the question is why? Why did I make some of the choices I've made. Well to be honest, I don't really know, but the past cannot be changed. Moral of the story: my true friends will always be in the same place. Solid as a rock and immovable. I was the weak one and I have to find the will to pull myself back to my comfort zone that I so foolishly left. The immovable one will not step off the beaten path, only direct me how to find my way back to it. So now I am faced with another choice, feel sorry for myself, sit down where I am and quit, or tighten my belt and go against the current to get back to the place I should be even though it's not easy, it's not pleasant and it's going to hurt. Well, I may be weak, but I'm not a quitter. Motivation may not be abundant, but desire is. Once again I'm dealing with my consequences and these I like even less than working full time.
Sorry to be all weird. Tends to happen when I can't sleep and I think to much. And the fact that I've been working four days in a row, little sleep and an ever growing pile of homework doesn't really help. Good thing I get next weekend off.

All Hallow's Eve 2010

This weekend has been so much fun! It was just the break from work that I've been needing. Even though work is part of my weekend... On with the tale!

Friday:

I worked all afternoon, but it was probably the best day to work ever! It was the resident's halloween party so just to get into the spirit, most of the staff dressed up and most of the resident's that attended the party dressed up as well. They were all so cute! I wore my kitty mask since I still had to wear my scrubs, but wanted to get into the spirit and still be able to work. Even the administration and the nurses dressed up! There was tons of candy being passed around, pumpkin painting and games. One of my favorite residents was dressed up as a chef and was in one of those blow up fat costumes and let me tell you, it was the funniest thing in the world to see her pushing her walker down the hall with that extra wide costume on! Anyway, all us CNA's were hyper and joking with each other all night and it was just so fun. After work that night, I was going to go to the college for the mentalist show, but got out of work kind of late and then had to run home to wash my clothes and shower. (Two of our residents have MRSA and I've been exposed to it. I'm paranoid and taking EVERY possible precaution so I don't get sick!) By the time I got done, it was late and I dozed off on the couch. I woke back up around one and couldn't go back to sleep so I decided to watch a scary movie. Stupid idea. I was home all alone and decided to watch the original 80's version of "Nightmare on Elm Street." Basically I screamed a lot and dreamed of Freddy Krueger that night...

Saturday:

I spent most of the day with my family and went with my brothers to the ward trunk or treat. My brothers are so funny! The 11-year old was dressed as Santa, the 8-year old was a red-eyed phantom and the 5-year old was Woody from Toy Story. We had so much fun! Woody wouldn't let me leave his side and was so excited to get all his candy! Red-eyed phantom got the award for the scariest costume and Santa made a lot of people laugh! After all the trunk or treating, my mom was feeling really tired, but wanted to have a good laugh so we put in our favorite Halloween movie of all time: "Ernest Scared Stupid." I hadn't seen the movie in years and we really enjoyed ourselves. After the movie, it was time for the kids to go to bed and Rach called me and invited me to go to a haunted house with her and bo-bo. The haunted house/spook alley was being held in a local ghost town and let me tell you, we all 3 got scared out of our wits! It was so awesome! I was terrified through the whole thing and we had such a blast laughing and screaming through the whole thing! Pretty much, we had a great time with the drive across the county and being so scared! After we got back to town we just hung out for awhile and enjoyed each other's company.

Sunday:

It was so great to sleep in! I went to church with my family and then went to Rach's work to keep her company for awhile. I then enjoyed a quiet evening with me, myself, and ABC's family's 13 Nights of Halloween specials.

Pretty much it was a great weekend and I think I'm ready to get back into the books tomorrow.

Pictures for your viewing pleasure: