A "Business Trip to AZ"

I am not sure if you can count it as a business trip if you paid for the trip yourself, but whatever reason, I made a 4 day trip to Mesa from February 19 to the 23rd.  The purpose was to visit a facility called First Place with three other parents of individuals with cognitive delays.  We are thinking about MAYBE starting something like it in Utah somewhere.  Gerald Nebeker had made the arrangements and invited me and Kent and Deborah Bowen to join him.  We have been having very general discussions and been doing our own research into options but this was the first time we had met together and started discussions.

First Place is an apartment complex and program designed for young adults with autism.  It was amazing, but I didn't take many pictures except this one below which was in their main offices and was the amazing flow chart of their vision and mission statement.  It was a work of art and served to remind each employee what they are trying to accomplish.

The next day, I went to see another program called Treasure House which was designed for individuals with cognitive delays.  Both of these programs have just opened in the past year and have state of the art facilities.  They include apartments and then community living spaces for the residents to be involved in to prevent social isolation which is common among those with cognitive delays as they age.  They also have support people to help them with jobs, volunteer work, and other community engagement.

I admire the passion of these people.  Both of these programs as well as most across the states were started by groups of parents.  We are slowly moving down this path, although I still am not sure how far down this road I am going yet.  There is so much to learn and it is such a huge topic that it is overwhelming.  Just one step at a time.....

As you can probably guess, I stayed at my sister, Valerie's home, and in-between her life and mine, we got some talking in (although as she commented in a text after I got home: "there is still much to talk about.")  I was able to read a few books in my down time, including an older biography of President Nelson before he became prophet.  He is brilliant and an awesome example of obeying God with exactness.

I enjoyed a walk in between rain storms which pelted the ground for a few of the days I was in Mesa.  I think they said that they had more rain in those few days than in most of their winter months.

But to prove I was in Mesa, I got the pictures of the sun and the palm trees in front of Valerie and Lance's house.  I got to see some of my nieces and nephews as well which was an added bonus.

Saturday, I spent with my good friend, Katie Hillam, and her family.  It was so good to catch up with her.  She and Brad are one of those couples that we have loved for a long time.  And spending time with them brings back all of those memories and also make it seem like we just saw each other last week.  Glad that I had the chance to see them as they are off on a new adventure to Madison, Wisconsin as Brad takes a new job.  Not sure when we will see them again.

We are so lucky to be blessed with friends!  (But despite my intent to take a picture, I forgot.)