It's Buddy Walk time again

This year, UDSF was sponsoring 4 Buddy Walks across the state--three in September and one in October down in St. George.  I had assignments to help in the Metro Buddy Walk in West Jordan but decided against setting up a team because it is hard to work at the Buddy Walk and enjoy it with the family.  I thought that we might try to attend another one as a family but that didn't work out because of other things as well...................it turned out to be a good thing that I hadn't planned on having a team, because we ended up needing to attend a funeral that day.  I headed down at 5:30 a.m. to help with set up and then trained some volunteers to run my section and left at 9:30 to get back, change and make it to my seat that Gary saved for me at the funeral.  Made it with 10 minutes to spare.

I just have a few pictures from the Buddy Walk, but things went great and we had bigger than expected crowds at each of the three Buddy Walks which have been held.  It is UDSF's 40th birthday so birthday games were the focus of the day with Super Heroes, Princesses, and other fun things to see and do.

As usual, I took a nap after all was said and done ....and I didn't even clean up!

First Month in Provo

has flown by for Jena (and for us--it seems like we are running around like crazy people on the days she is gone, trying to get things done.)  It has been a great experience for her.  Here are some of the photos and highlights for her so far.

Of course, Bridal Veil Falls is a mandatory hike for our BYU students----

Amy's aide, Amy, Emily, Sara and Jena
Amy is a new friend with autism who joins them for the Wednesday outings.

Jena sent us this in a text.  She went shopping at the BYU bookstore and bought herself a new BYU shirt.  She loves it and you will often see her wearing it on Wednesday outings.

They made a trip to the Bean Museum---

Jena, Emily, Hannah (the amazing leader), and Sara

 Being silly together.....

Hannah has a friend who works at BYU Broadcasting so they got a complete tour of the building and were able to see where BYU Sports is filmed as well as Studio C.  They got free Studio C tshirts.

Jena and their tour guide

Heading out for a Wednesday activity----this is what joy looks like when you are living your dreams.

One beautiful September day they headed up the famous "Y" mountain hike.  That was a very ambitious hike for them (and for many students.)  Near the start of the race, Jena commented that her water from her water bottle tasted soapy.  About 5 minutes further, Jena started throwing up.  Not a fun way to hike.  Immediately Hannah found a cool spot for them to rest and gave her some of her own water to drink.  Emily decided to wait with them while everyone else made the hike to the "Y". 

They made it to the top while Emily and Jena rested.   Jena didn't feel great for a couple of hours but then asked for a little food and then did great the rest of the day.  I was proud of Jena for noticing and telling Hannah about the soap water taste (apparently I had not taught Jena how to clean her water bottle--mom fail!) and for Hannah in helping Jena when she didn't feel well.  When I heard about it, I wanted to rush down and check Jena out, but I didn't.  She is growing up and she was able to get the help she needed when she needed it.  That's what adults do.

This past Tuesday, Jena sent me this photo.  It is a picture of the very tall Bell Tower on BYU campus.  It plays bells on the hour as well as other times when they have a recital or just play a few hymns and other songs for fun.  I love the bell tower and the sounds of the bells and it will always remind me of BYU and the memories and feelings of that time of my life.  The text that came with the photo was:  "The. Bells. favorite things"  I don't know if she was remembering that I loved the bells or if they are now one of her favorite things---either way, it touched me.

One of the things that they do weekly is attend BYU Devotional or Forum each Tuesday morning.  The first Tuesday of October was the Homecoming Program which was a big hit with all of the girls.  They had lots of music and performances by some of the groups on the campus and all of the excitement that surrounds that type of event.  Vicki, who is the mastermind and program leader/teacher, sent us the following text:

"This was a great day for all of us! Instead of devotional they had the homecoming assembly this morning.  We loved all of the patriotic fanfare and entertainment. At one point Sara threw out her arms, gestured to everything around her and said, "This is my dream." Jena told the bus driver, "I am a BYU student, too!" and Emily showed her BYU id to everyone all day.  We had four best buddies go with us to the assembly.  LAter two friends came to classes in the afternoon and, before they helped with math, showed us a presentation they have made about hair care.  They helped the girls style and brush their own hair.  Even Jena love it!  We feel so privileged to get to do all this!"  (As independent as Jena is, doing her hair is the one things we can't seem to get her to do.  That is why she commented about that specifically.)

Jena, Sara and Emily have scooters which they are using for exercise and to keep up with Amy who can walk very fast.  Last week they took a scooter/walk on a nearby trail.  Provo is gorgeous at this time of year.  No wonder college starts in September.  You fall in love with the place and then just hang on through the winter.

Hannah plans the Wednesday activities and heard that there was going to be a show of life animals at the Bean Museum so they made another trip back to meet the reptiles.

There have already been some great memories made in just the first month.  Jena is part of a country dance class which has been great fun.  According to Vicki, the whole class has welcomed Jena and help her feel a part of them.  Jena has a volunteer who takes her to Yserve to do a service project on Thursdays. The BYU ward where they live has been great as well.  Last week, Hannah and the other roommates were unable to take them to FHE on campus to hear a granddaughter of Pres. Hinckley speak.  The Relief Society president heard they didn't have a ride and offered to take them and bring them home.  We heard it was a great evening.  Other nights they played pictionary in chocolate pudding and once they dressed up in funny clothes for funny family pictures.

Now if only her football team could score a win!!!

The Children's Center Salt Lake City

I did a presentation at the new Kaysville Utah State Social Work cohort about my job as a social worker on September 5.  I asked Susan (my old professor) if I had really done my job long enough to count as a social worker and she said that I had....and I got to also give advice about being a graduate student as well.  This was the picture I used of the building I currently work out.  It was an old school built in the 1890's.  It was redone in 2009 to house The Children's Center. It is a good place to work and a work that can make a difference for little people and families.  It is hard but a way that I contribute to families which are so important.

And back to the presentation, I am not going to lie--it was weird to see different people sitting in "our seats."  On Tuesday nights it is still strange to not go to class and see my cohort.  I have finally lost the feeling that I have homework to do or textbooks to read in the last couple of weeks (although that might be more due to life filling up with other things.....and being very tired each day after work.)

Life moves forward and there is always new adventures ahead!!!!

September 1, 2017

The day I officially started working as a full-time employee of The Children's Center as a certified social worker.  I haven't worked full-time at a paying job since I was married...and really it was only during the summers that I worked full-time hours except the 11 months I worked at Kilgore Psychiatric Hospital for children and adolescents in 1977-78.  That means that it has been almost 40 years since I worked full-time.......I hope that I can do it.  And actually I am working 36 hours a week--although what I am doing is taking one full day off each pay period.  With Jena and Ben, I still feel like I need some flexibility for appointments etc.  We will see how that works----

My plan is to work four years...but by now, I know how plans can go....whatever happens--- it is a privilege to work with parents and children and hopefully help them in some small way, understand each other a little better and find joy together.

Never a dull moment around here.