"Food" is a Miracle Worker

A few weeks ago I began this new diet to help with my migraines...since last Tuesday, I've only had one migraine. Other than that, I've barely even had a headache. It is a MIRACLE!! I feel like I can think and function. Although the diet is very restrictive and to me seems very random (for the foods I can and cannot eat) I'm sticking to it for now to give my head a good long break. I will gradually start to add a food in and see if it triggers any pain in my head. If it does: I'm never eating it again. If it does not: I can reintroduce it to my diet.

I met with a neurologist last week. They did some blood tests and then I did an MRI of my brian on Friday. The MRI came back perfectly normal (as did my last CT brain scan). All but one of my blood tests came back normal and with that one I'll just be retested in a month and we'll see if it is anything to worry about.

I went home this last weekend. It was fantastic!! On Friday night, I went to the wedding reception of my dear friends Jason King and Whitney Norton King. Everything was very simple and gorgeous. I loved it. Afterwards, I hung out with Matthew Sargent. Such an awesome kid :) We had ice cream and then drove to a hill in Hyde Park. We ended up having a personal firework show from some rich family down the hill. I started to play patriotic music on my phone as we sat on top of his car. It was pretty epic.

Saturday was a slightly exhausting day! My madre and I went to help Grandma Gwen. Ali came and just hung out. I've been helping my grandma sort through tons of files from her life and my grandpa's. They have SO much stuff it is kind of ridiculous! haha But I'm stern with her and question if she really needs this or that. Half of the time she says yes and I ask her, "when are you going to use this?" She just looks at me and says, "Fine, throw it away." I'm the ultimate declutter-er! If you ever need this service..I'm up for hire. Saturday night was good. My mother made a recipe I picked. Spaghetti Squash with Shrimp. It was delicious. After dinner, I went with Zach, Natalie, and Franchesca up the canyon. We sat in the back of the truc
k and star-gazed, joked around, and attempted our squishy pictures...like always. I also took up cupcakes to celebrate Zach's birthday (that was last Tuesday). So much fun!!

Yesterday, I was able to do an actual workout for the first time in a very long time! I did pushups and crunches and stretches and some yoga. It was 25 minutes of solid workout! YAY for me :)

I'm still in the process of finalizing an apartment. I'm going to end up couch hopping for about a month because things keep changing but hopefully this can be finalized and I'll just couch hop for about a month.

I feel like that is pretty much the update. Tomorrow is the 24th of July. I'll be heading up to Logan tomorrow for the Pioneer Day celebrations-I'm very excited. Well until next time...take some steps to better yourself-in any way!

Don't Ever Get Comfortable..Things Change for Good and Bad

I've decided people need to stop telling me, "It could be worse!" or "It'll all work out." Because after someone says that..it does get worse! And I'm not really sure how everything is going to work out. It will work it self out but is it going to be in a way that I would like? I have no idea but I want my body to get better and get back to a normal life.

It is amazing how your entire body works together to function. This last two weeks my migraines have become extremely severe and all too often. When I say often I mean every day! I've experienced five of my worst migraines. They put me completely out of commission-your brain controls your body-everything works together. I'm unable to explain how much pain I felt-my head compressing so much that I couldn't function. At one point, I had my hands up to my head in agony wishing it could stop because I didn't think I could take anymore. I thought of the Savior and His Atonement. I thought of him in Gethsemane and the excruciating pain he endured. I thought the pain I was feeling was excruciating but it was only one of my migraines. I wasn't even feeling back pain at that moment-or imagine combining the pain of two migraines!! I can't begin to comprehend the pain that Christ felt in the Garden. I'm so thankful for his sacrifice for me specifically. I am helpless without him. I know that I am very weak, especially right now. I need to try harder to rely on him and gain a deeper understanding of His great Atoning sacrifice for the world.

My job is great--although it isn't my dream job--my employer has been so good to me. They are flexible with my schedule and care about me and how I am doing. Just this last Thursday-I was very stressed. On Wednesday night, I had been told that I need to find a new place to live by the end of the month. That is only 2.5 weeks away! I was freaking out and had a slight panic attack-to say the least. At work the following day, I was very quiet and trying to not think to hard. If I thought about my pain and the stresses of finding a new place, I was going to induce a migraine and make it harder for me to work. I tried to just focus on work. I've been feeling bad about work since I've missed so much. I was hoping that people at work weren't starting to get annoyed. I was called into the office of the HR Director. One of the VP's and his assistant were there. I was scared out of my mind. They had me sit down facing all of them and I was asked how I was doing. I didn't know how to answer. I asked, "How am I doing with what?" They asked about my job and how I'm handling my responsibilities. Besides being gone, I thought I was doing alright with everything. I have reached all my goals and try to be prepared for anything in case I have to leave or call in a sub. All of a sudden they all started complimenting me on how they love the work I do and how much they appreciate me. I was shocked! Then they gave me a $50 gift card. To know I was appreciated in a place where I felt like I deserve the opposite, was such a great blessing. I try to express my appreciation and love for people as often as I can. But I want to try even harder and I encourage all of you to as well. It could make someone's hour, day, week, or month. Make sure people feel loved!

I do want to give a shout-out to some of my friends. I've been able to chat with some people who are far away. They give me courage and strength, make me smile, and give me something to look forward to. The past little while, I have greatly relied on my friends in Texas, Hawaii, Alaska, Idaho, and California! I have some pretty awesome friends in Utah too :) Thanks for all of your messages, talking with me-or probably more listening to me-haha, you have no idea what it means to me knowing that you are there to talk to. Thank you!


This weekend I was able to go home and spend some time with my family and a few friends as well. A dear friend came home from his mission this past week: Joseph Ditton. Mi padre and I went to his "homecoming" talk. He is within the top two best homecoming talks I've heard. He balanced principles with mission stories. He seems so grown up...I mostly remember his obnoxious pre-teen/teen years! haha But he has definitely matured. He shared his "Top Three Things to have Success as a Missionary." The first one was to find truth-seekers. To do this you must share your testimony of the Book of Mormon to everyone. Those who are seeking truth will accept it as truth and want to learn more. The second thing is the principle of Obedience. He shared about truth and light. The Holy Ghost shares the truth. When we think of light-people usually think of Christ first. Although that is correct, WE can be the light as well. In order to have that light and have the Spirit of truth dwelling with you, you must be obedient. D&C 93:28 says, "He that keepeth his commandments receiveth truth and light, until he is glorified in truth and knoweth all things." There were some interesting insights shared about truth and light-Joseph encouraged us to study D&C 93. The final thing that Joseph taught about was Love. He said, "You can't want someone to be baptized without loving them." The great thing about this talk was that it doesn't only apply to full-time missionaries. It can apply to ward missionaries or not even missionary work. You can apply these things to personal growth or just growing and nurturing your everyday relationships. Joseph, thanks for sharing these things today!

I hope that we can all take steps in our life to come closer to Christ, gain a deeper understanding of His Atonement for each of us, that we can find ways to show our love and appreciation for those around us, and that we can either do missionary work or develop greater bonds with our other Brothers' and Sisters'. I love you all and am thankful for those who support and strengthen me.

Be Strong

"Be strong, like this!" -Clayton Fielding

This week I started a new goal with Clayton. I'm going to cut sugary treats from my diet and he's going to go to the gym 5x per week. We started this goal a few weeks ago and I was going to "not eat candy at work." It had good intentions-I have this candy jar on my desk and it tempts me all afternoon. If I eat one, I could eat the entire thing but if I can stay strong then I'm good. The last few weeks, I've missed quite a bit of work-then I didn't really know what my actual goal was. I originally said no candy at work but I'm not at work, so can I eat treats? Pretty much I told myself..yes! I failed at the goal. This last weekend I told Clayton that I had to start over. I can have one "treat" per week so I must choose wisely.

Today, this candy jar is just looking sooooo good! I told Clayton that and then he sent me the picture and told me to be strong! It made me laugh. I've decided this little kid is my inspirational mascot as I work to acheive this goal. Thank you, Clayton!

Great news with my back...I think...today my back is mostly stiff. There is a little bit of pain but I think the shots are working this time. I think by the end of the week we'll know for sure. Once my back is feeling better, I'm hoping that I'll be able to sleep better and then with those two things fixed I'll be a much happier person. I'll start researching for surgery as well as how to get rid of my migraines. One step at a time! I can be strong. I'm just being super thankful that I'm not laying on the couch, wanting to die because of massive amounts of pain!

So there is some irony I'm noticing to my work. I have created this reading schedule as a goal-there are a bunch of business-y books that I want to/should read and I knew I would just put them off if I didn't create a schedule. So the book that I'm on is called, "Getting things Done" by David Allen. The irony is that I have not had time to read it because I have too much to get done! I don't know why as I'm trying to read this book, I really just can't make time for it! It is my third book of the schedule and I finished the other two. I guess I just need to crack down and "get it done!"

Something that has been on my mind lately is respect; the way you treat people. There's a saying out there that says something like-people won't always remember what you said but they'll remember how you made them feel. The way you treat people will effect the way they feel, the things you say to someone will effect the way they feel. Sometimes people just need to put aside their pride and let things go. Saying something degrading will not make your point, it actually doesn't accomplish anything. I'm not sure what it does for the person who said it but it does damage to those who heard it. A co-worker asked if I had ever heard the acronym "CDR." I hadn't so she said that it stood for "Courtesy, Dignity, and Respect." A company she once worked for had it as their "moto." I think that it is something everyone should strive to live by-it would just make the world a better place and releive people of harsh feelings.

Let's take small steps to make the world a better place. Think about how the words you use and the actions you take will effect the people around you.