Dreams Really do come true!

Yesterday I was filling out the paperwork to request my license to practice therapy.
I started to get emotional because this is a dream I have had for as long as I can remember (well at least since I was 12).
I have accomplished it! I am going to request my license Monday morning in Salt Lake City at DOPL, Division of Professional Licensing.
I feel so blessed and grateful to have the dream becoming a reality. This dream happened earlier than I expected as I did not plan to go back to school until I had 5 kids and they were all in school, but apparently God has other plans for me.
Now I simply want to be able to do His will for me.
This has been a long, difficult and emotional journey and this chapter has finally come to an end.

Also I took these two to the local Surf-N-Slurp and got them snow cones brrrrr.
While she was making David's he said "I'm the luckiest kid in the world"
Glad I can help others achieve their dreams too!

David got tigers blood and root beer side by side and Joey got tigers blood and bubble gum mixed. MMMMMM :)

P A S S

One of my friends posted on her blog about how much those four letters meant to her. I did not really get what she was talking about until I saw those four letters in that order myself.
P A S S

It happened, I did it! BUT definitely not on my own. I have been praying for help with that for over a week now. I went to the temple this morning in order to help my mind be more clear and active. I actually started crying when I saw those four letters today. I was overcome with gratitude that it was over and that I passed.

This test was the LCSW test which is the licensing exam to be a therapist/social worker. It cost me $300 and I would have had to pay $300 again if I failed today, plus wait three months, plus pay for an internship license until I actually passed so that I could practice therapy legally.

I am so thankful for the help I received during this test. At one point, after 2 hours of testing I got up to take a break and saw I was having a physical reaction to the stress because my face was bright red. It was 170 questions... my attention span was such that I was reading each question atleast 3 times :) Gotta love it!

Anyways I am done and feeling tons of gratitude! And Relief!

Deserving

Sometimes I feel so undeserving of these two.

I can be such a grumpy mom.
I just got done with my first official week of full-time work.
Tuesday-Saturday 9-4, hopefully this doesn't last too long.
I was so grumpy and edgy with them.
Then Joey came up to me and said "mom, I love you." And gave me a big hug!
I felt like poo.
I am constantly apologizing to them and asking for their patience,
and they are always willing to offer forgiveness and love.
I am so thankful for them in my life and count them as BLESSINGS!

OA

This was on the OA Website... I found it a little humorous so I wanted to share.

Are You a Compulsive Overeater?

This series of questions may help you determine if you are a compulsive eater.

1. Do you eat when you’re not hungry?
2. Do you go on eating binges for no apparent reason?
3. Do you have feelings of guilt and remorse after overeating?
4. Do you give too much time and thought to food?
5. Do you look forward with pleasure and anticipation to the time when you can eat alone?
6. Do you plan these secret binges ahead of time?
7. Do you eat sensibly before others and make up for it alone?
8. Is your weight affecting the way you live your life?
9. Have you tried to diet for a week (or longer), only to fall short of your goal?
10. Do you resent others telling you to “use a little willpower” to stop overeating?
11. Despite evidence to the contrary, have you continued to assert that you can diet “on your own” whenever you wish?
12. Do you crave to eat at a definite time, day or night, other than mealtime?
13. Do you eat to escape from worries or trouble?
14. Have you ever been treated for obesity or a food-related condition?
15. Does your eating behavior make you or others unhappy?

Have you answered yes to three or more of these questions? If so, it is probable that you have or are well on your way to having a compulsive eating problem. We have found that the way to arrest this progressive disease is to practice the Twelve-Step recovery program of Overeaters Anonymous. Overeaters Anonymous is a fellowship of individuals who, through shared experience, strength and hope, are recovering from compulsive overeating. We welcome everyone who wants to stop eating compulsively. There are no dues or fees for members; we are self-supporting through our own contributions, neither soliciting nor accepting outside donations. OA is not affiliated with any public or private organization, political movement, ideology or religious doctrine; we take no position on outside issues. Our primary purpose is to abstain from compulsive overeating and to carry this message of recovery to those who still suffer.

Is OA for You?

Only you can decide that question. No one else can make this decision for you. We who are now in OA have found a way of life which enables us to live without the need for excess food. We believe that compulsive eating is a progressive illness, one that, like alcoholism and some other illnesses, can be arrested. Remember, there is no shame in admitting you have a problem; the most important thing is to do something about it.

I am going to give it a shot... My clients right now are all expected to attend Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Cocaine Anonymous (CA), Marijuana Anonymous (MA) etc. so I am going to give OA a shot.

My Class

These guys were all amazing, fun, understanding, funny, hardworkers, cute, and the best cohort I could have imagined to spend the last 20 months with.Thanks MSW Class of 2010!
LYLAS, love ya like a sister.

Self Control

Why do I struggle so much to control what I eat?
I eat when I am stressed and I think it makes me feel better but I know I would feel SO much better in the stress if I was eating healthy.
When I eat healthy I don't feel fat, bloated, chubby, overweight, and my clothes are not too tight. When I tell people I am going to eat better I eat worse, so it does not help if I ask for tons of support, I have to decide for myself and then do it myself.
It would be nice to have someone to call when I feel weak and know that they will support me by reminding me to eat healthy i.e. carrots, celery, fruit, water... but in reality I just need some self- control.
I went to the Dr. yesterday for a check-up and had to step on that scale... crap!!! I am done with school now so that stress should be gone, but now I am working full time so there is that added stress, plus we have to move because our landlords are not going to be renting this house anymore (their granddaughter needs a place to stay). No matter what, there is always going to be some stress, so that is no longer an excuse!!!

I know I am beautiful and weight does not matter, but it is important to eat healthy and feel healthy, and treat our bodies like the temples they are, plus it hurts to run cuz I'm so chubby.

Help me out, please, (my face is showing the chubbiness) what do you do?

Perfect Day

I do not know why I share such intimate experiences on this blog... I guess it is because I hope that it will help someone else, it is a cute way to "journal" these events, and I can write it better than saying it.

Soooo here you go.

As I was getting ready for the day, the day after my graduation, I was full of gratitude for all I have been given, then this random thought came into my mind... the one thing that would've made my graduation day even more perfect would have been to have my dad there.
Every big event my family has had since my dad passed away I have always had very strong impressions that my dad was there. The mornings both of my boys were born I had overwhelming feelings of peace and comfort knowing that my dad was with me.
When all of my siblings left and came home from their missions, and got married I had similar impressions. Whenever I need it most I'll see a UPS truck or see my 'Uncle' Don who calls me "Roo", a nick name from my dad.
As graduation approached I knew I would get the feeling that he was there and he was proud of me and I was waiting for it.
My mom made the comment that now he has his BYU grad and I knew that he was proud, the ring my mom gave me was from my dad for her, so I knew that he was in on the gift with her, but I still had not received that special feeling that comes only from him and the spirit, and Saturday morning after graduation I got it.
I had this overwhelming feeling that he was there with me and he was proud, the tears just flowed and flowed and flowed. I am so thankful for the tender mercies of our loving Father in Heaven who at moments allows the veil to be thin enough for us to feel the presence of those who have passed on.
In church yesterday I was overcome with gratitude at the love of our Father who helps us through trials and struggles only to make us stronger, better people. I know I could not have completed the last two years without some special help from above. I am grateful to know that I am a better person for sticking with it and trusting in the Lord, counting on Him in times of need.

I like this pic of the boys in their flip flops so I wanted to include it.

I love this guy too! I love that we are growing old and chubby together :)
I know I had so much help from so many earthly angels so many that I could not name them all, we have had such a great ward, a great landlord, great neighbors, wonderful friends, terrific classmates, amazing professors and mentors, and the best family EVER!
The past 20+ months have been so life changing for me that I may just randomly post about them for the next little while. Thank you for bearing with me and still following my blog.
Love you and Thank you!!!